Interestingly some recent research suggests that from a distraction perspective hands free for calls is not really any better than holding a phone to your ear.

Supposedly it's the extra cognitive load of having a conversation with someone who is not sharing your context that is the issue, whether you're holding the phone or not doesn't make much difference.

There's some work being done on how your driving context (e.g. approaching a big roundabout) can be shared real time to reduce that effect.

Of course, that doesn't include the risk of fumbling around with the phone, dropping it etc., texting or playing angry birds... FL2 2011 SD4 XS in Galway Green

Personally I'm of the opinion that using a mobile phone, held up to your ear, or even held in the air in front of your face with the speaker on (what do these people think they are achieving?) are both rightly illegal, it's so distracting, and you now only have one hand to drive with.

Even with bluetooth connection in the car, I only ever use it so I am able to answer calls, and I have been known to tell the other person to be quiet or hang up so I can concentrate if I'm at a junction or anything that requires more than just keeping constant speed, keeping in my lane and making sure no-one in front of me has slowed down.
It really is distracting as I think Mythbusters showed in one of their episodes.

Here's a thought. Manufacturers spend millions developing safer cars, with impact protection systems, multiple airbags, lane drift technology, automatic low speed breaking, blind spot warnings etc etc, so why don't they come up with a phone signal blocking device for the drivers seat only ?. It wouldn't stop integrated hands free calls but they aren't illegal (yet).

Jamming kit for wide areas exists but it must be possible to configure it in the headlining directed towards the driver.

Now where's that application form for dragon's den, and the phone number for Volvo  _________________
Gone - 2010 Rimini XS

http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-23...kdown.html


fines increase 50%, not much point in that they need to put 100% more effort into catching people using there phones first 1995 P38 now dead
2012 FL2 GS Fuji White
winter pack
arm rest pack

Is it illegal to drive and eat,drink,have music and heavy bass playing(so loud it distracts other motorists),talk consistently especially with rear seat passengers,wave flags ,supporters scarfs out the drivers window,change the CD (remove from case etc),put on make up,change clothes etc, the list goes on .All these things have happened ,do happen.

I do agree driving while talking on the phone is potentially dangerous,but so are many other things which are not particularly the targets of "anti campaigns".

All of those (with the possible exception of the loud music, unfortunately) could potentially be covered by a charge of not being in proper control of the vehicle. People have been 'done' for such things - you may remember the press picking up on a case a few years ago where someone was prosecuted for eating an apple whilst driving. So whilst mobile phones have been made a special case, anything which distracts the driver can result in prosecution.

...

I think that the mobile phone was targeted by the 'legislation-frenzied' Labour government, where everything that moved had to be legislated for or against.... and in fact, as others on this forum have pointed out, any activity that can be construed as interfering with a driver's ability to control his vehicle (eg rummaging for a CD, reading a map, texting, eating a sandwich) was already covered by previous legislation.

... ...

Be true to yourself. That way happiness lies...

All that is needed is lots of Traffic Plod, 4 or 5 times more than we have now and let them do what they used to do brilliantly ride round in big brightly coloured cars and fast bikes and instead of relying on camera enforcement, target bad and dangerous drivers, duff motors, real speeding etc.... Job sorted I think I'll run for Police Commisioner  2009 GS Auto Zermatt Silver - Sold June 21 after 10 years of ownership

2016 Subaru Outback SE 2.0 diesel SE Premium Lineartronic Sold 2024 after 8 years and 80k miles . Best Car I ever owned !

2023 Toyota Hilux invincible X 2.8 Auto .

my mate got done for eating a big mac while driving At work
At home

"I can't always believe facts I read on the web" - Charles Dickens

winner by default of the tractor vs caravan race

Mobile phones are being focused because they are easy to spot and easy to prove it was in use at the time, if the motorist tries to contest. It's all just a money making scheme, as are fixed speed cameras. The 50% increase will do nothing but give money to the treasury, if they were serious they would have increased the points instead.

The police are not interested in stopping people who drive carelessly or even dangerously. I've been witness to that several times recently. In fact your local astra diesel driving bobbies are some of the worst drivers on the road atm.

chicken george wrote:

my mate got done for eating a big mac while driving

I think that eating a big mac (all gourmet considerations aside for now...) COULD be construed as interfering with control of the car... depends on the circumstances... full-on chomping, fries on the side, steering with knee etc would be frowned on by the boys in blue.

On the other hand, the occasional wine gum couldn't seriously be seen as a hazard. Arguably aids driver wakefulness etc

Going back to use of a mobile phone... I have heard (not first hand experience) of drivers pulling over on receipt of a call, taking the call whilst in the car then being done for using the phone. The argument being that... you're in the driver seat, the engine's running... ergo you're in charge of the vehicle...

Perhaps one for The Doc LLB when he surfaces from his EU Law exam...

... ...

Be true to yourself. That way happiness lies...

That is the law as I (not a lawyer!) understand it - you must turn off the engine, in a suitable and safe location, before you can legally take or make a call.

I thought the definition was that the handbrake must be engaged.

It's better than drink driving - I just keep spilling it when cornering...  2002 Honda VFR800
2002 Toyota Celica 140 Silver (mid life crisis - again!)
2007 FL2 GS Manual Army Reconnaissance Green + freel2.com sticker
2004 Toyota Celica 140 Black - Gone
2000 Toyota Celica 140 Silver - Gone
1998 Toyota Celica ST Pearl Green - Gone
1996 Nissan Primera 1.6 - Gone
1994 Rover Montego 1.6 Auto - Gone

A quick check suggests the engine does need to be switched off to be legal. E.g. from the AA http://www.theaa.com/motoring_advice/legal...hones.html

Quote:

It is illegal to use a mobile phone held in the hand while driving or while stopped with the engine on.

Quote:

Don't use a mobile phone held in the hand while driving or while stopped with the engine switched on – it is illegal.

if you look at https://www.gov.uk/using-mobile-phones-when-driving-the-law

It states:

If you’re the driver, you can only use your phone in a vehicle if you:
1) need to call 999 or 112 in an emergency and it’s unsafe or impractical to stop
2) are safely parked

so by definition to be safely parked you should have applied the handbrake but not necessarily switched off the engine - it could be very cold outside and you need the AirCon heating...


It also states - It’s also illegal to use a hand-held phone or similar device when supervising a learner driver or rider. 2002 Honda VFR800
2002 Toyota Celica 140 Silver (mid life crisis - again!)
2007 FL2 GS Manual Army Reconnaissance Green + freel2.com sticker
2004 Toyota Celica 140 Black - Gone
2000 Toyota Celica 140 Silver - Gone
1998 Toyota Celica ST Pearl Green - Gone
1996 Nissan Primera 1.6 - Gone
1994 Rover Montego 1.6 Auto - Gone