Changes to Rules for Hand Held Devices in Cars
Apparently there are some new rules coming into effect tomorrow on the use of Hand held Devices in cars. Came across this video on YouTube that explains https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=icIoa2_8Byo It also covers the use of mobile phones as Sat Navs.
David
Comments
-
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=icIoa2_8Byo
Interesting, I've seen a lot by this youtuber, always good
0 -
Now I use my phone often as a sat nav in one car and I don't have it in a cradle. I program the destination then put the phone often on the seat next or somewhere where I can't see the screen but can listen to the audio instructions. From this video that now appears to be illegal as it is not in a fixed point or cradle?
0 -
so using a phone is dangerous but adding a destination into a fitted sat-nav or making a hands free phone call via the car's 'radio' is all OK. Though not in a 'fixed cradle', I often use Waze on my phone with it sat on a rubber none slip mat on my dash. It's never fell off yet but doubt whether it would be within the rules
0 -
Very interesting. From my own personal experience I can confirm that use of a mobile - in the hand - can be very distracting to the extent of downright dangerous.
When such instrument is attached to the vehicle, by way of a magnetic clamp in, say, an air vent it is not so. Even better is a direct connection via blue tooth to the car's audio system. I have managed to drive quite safely using this system even with the phone being in a pocket.
I would suggest that the new regs. are not without value.
0 -
+1 C, he don’t waste energy going around the houses either, straight to the salient points👏🏻👏🏻
1 -
I fail to see the difference between holding a phone in your hand & having a conversation using Bluetooth via your car. The experts all say that it's the actual conversation that's the distraction. The experts have obviously never had a couple of arguing kids sat in the back of their car.
1 -
Making a call on my Nissan Connect Bluetooth device is infinitely more complicated than using the mobile, but then I can honestly say I’ve never done either. I have, on occasions, received a call whist driving but I try to make it short and sweet .
0 -
It's a couple of presses of a screen or turn of a dial to make calls from 2 of my cars. I both make & receive calls and feel quite comfortable to do either .... I honestly can't see the difference between talking to someone at the other end of the phone or a passenger in the car. I know the age old argument that the person at the other end of the phone can't see the traffic I'm in but passengers in my car don't always take account of it either.
0 -
You should try that argument with the police should you get stopped with a hand-held device and see what their response is.
2 -
I’m thinking-2 hands free B/Tooth, 1 hand free holding a phone🤷🏻♂️. Hope this helps ED👍🏻
0 -
you've lost me .... 🤷♂️ I invariably drive with 1 hand anyway so have a free hand if I wanted to hold phone. I upgraded to auto cars 30 yrs ago so no need to wiggle a gear lever while driving. 👍 So am I still allowed to use a 2 way radio .... like Plod does? It's still a conversation that we're deemed to not be capable of while driving.
0 -
tighter turns maybe .... but in general, no. PAS makes it easy 😉 But anyway, my other hand isn't far away if I do need two.
It's immaterial anyway ... though I don't agree with not being able to use a phone at the wheel, I tow the line & don't .... As said, I have Bluetooth if I need to make/answer a call
0 -
ED-you posted. . .‘I fail to see the difference between holding a phone in your hand & holding a conversation using B/tooth in your car’ my answer explained that. Is this easier-B/Tooth=no hands, holding phone=1 hand. Another is you’ll get done one way but not the other. Your personal logic won’t trump the law regardless how much you believe it will☹️
1 -
I don’t bother these days as I definitely found it distracting. They can always leave a message. However when I did, I had the numbers I might want to call set up for voice command. A press of a button on the steering wheel, state call xxxx and job done.
0 -
Having seen the video linked to above, it will be interesting to see what the use of a phone for sat nav, in a cradle,will entail.
We gave our Grandson an old Tom Tom after he passed his test, which included following directions from a sat nav, but then suggested he use his mobile with Google maps instead.
We got cradle and power lead so it seems that will be OK, not that he uses it much now anyway, but will have to see.
Personally my phone goes in the back of the car, so not in view, but I can charge it using a wireless pad in the centre console.
0 -
First of all I am no Angel...............but as far as I am concerned I put my Mobile in the Glove Box when I get in the car and take it with me when I get out and if it rings whilst in transit, so what , I will return the call when it is convenient. Nothing in my world is that important .Whilst a Sales Representative/Manager I have travelled numerous miles whilst talking on the phone, probably a danger to myself and others but those days have gone forever.
2 -
It almost feels like the mobile phone has taken on a God like status. It must be obeyed and slavishly idolised and revered, and not just by the young.
Why?
The world didn't collapse pre 1990s before mobiles came along. I fully agree with ADPs view. If there are 2 of us in the car then the passenger might check who has called if we are on a long journey but otherwise it stays hidden. If only 1 in the car it's only there as an emergency.
I've seen the consequences of a lack of concentration when driving. Not pretty.
1 -
... I've seen the consequences of a lack of concentration when driving. Not pretty.
Was that when using a phone or not? There are many things in a car that can cause a lack of concentration ..... 🙄 And let's face it, there are some drivers that should have had their licence torn up in front of them when a mobile was something that you hung up over a baby's cot. Do all these people that would never ever answer a call in their car ever even speak to their passengers?
0 -
I think everyone is different ED. I certainly found it distracting, far more than speaking to a passenger. That’s why I no longer bother and let any calls go to voice mail. Although OH will check whose calling if we are on are way to a site. A couple of times in the last couple of years, it has been a site and we have found a place to pull in and ring back.
0 -
The one problem I used to find was that I automatically looked at the screen when my phone rang. Oops not watching the road!
Similarly for a short while I would look at the screen to select a music track = same lack of concentration on the road and where I might be going!
Thank goodness my car has blur tooth ability to connect to phone so that whilst (mentally) checking on a caller I can still be looking at the road ahead.
I am all in favour of this tightening up of the regs.
1 -
Having dealt with an insurance claim in the late 1990s when the driver of a car knocked over and killed a boy of 11 on a zebra crossing due to the driver being on his mobile phone at the time then yes he was using the phone at the time. I dealt with a fleet of vehicles for the employer of the driver.
You only need to deal with one of these to realise the consequences and equating it to talking to passengers is quite frankly erroneous, unless you are one of the sort that has to turn around in the drivers seat to talk to someone in the back seat.
I also recall being in France when news came through of a car plowing into 4 police officers attending a minor incident on their motorway system. The young lady driver was holding a mobile phone and talking into it at the time she veered out of her lane and onto the hard shoulder. All of the police officers were killed.
None of us are perfect drivers, we all have lapses but keeping one of the distractions away is a good thing. You are just arguing that there are other distractions so this is irrelevant.
3
