ACRIV

I heard last year that they were going to ban the use of mobile phones whilst driving and thought that it was due to take effect this month ??

Does anyone know when and if this new law is likley to take effect and what is going to be classed as a "legal" car kit ??

Although I generally turn the phone off to enjoy the Scoob I think it is something that may be of interest to some folk.

Thanks

JonnyStell@

I'm pretty sure it will be against the law by easter.

Fines will be up to £40 with no endorsement on your licence.

It's certainly a good idea to get some kind of in car speaker phone etc...

Hanley

According to the Department of Transport the only handsfree that cannot be made illegal are ones that are built into the car.

The report states it would be impossible to enforce as you could simply appear to be talking to yourself!!!!!

paul-s

i thought it was already illegal, coz at the moment you can still get stopped for using the fone on the move, and if this wasnt law, then why would they stop you ? ?

SiDHEaD

Does that mean texting at 90+mph in the outside lane of the motorway isn't allowed, best tell Vectra-man yesterday then....

Andy

juan

hooray for that.

brickboy

I think JohnMcC has hit the nail on the head, wasn't there someone who got nicked for eating a Twix or something while driving recently?

Personally I never use the mobile in the car -- too busy pouring a coffee from my Thermos while lighting a ciggy ...

Hanley

JohnMcc

I think you may find you're slightly wrong there.
You will not be able to use a 'handheld' mobile or a handsfree which has a cord and connects using an earpice.

And whilst it certainly isn't recommended, you can still have your phone plugged into a built-in handsfree kit and use it without being prosecuted. See below

Paragraph 8 from the Department of Transport's Consultation Report

8. The Department recognises that research shows that using a hands-free phone is also distracting and increases the risk of having an accident. We have considered whether a specific offence should include hands-free phones but belive that such a provision would be largely unforceable. We do not therefore beleive that it would be practical to include hands-free phones within the scope of the proposed legislation.



[Edited by Hanley - 2/6/2003 12:13:24 PM]

[Edited by Hanley - 2/6/2003 12:13:39 PM]

JohnMcC

When I was talking about using a phone I actually meant when you were physically holding it. So when I said 'you wont be able to use a phone - full stop' or whatever it was, I wasnt actually including handsfree.

JohnMcC

...of the built in kind

(well, either kind actually!)

58GT

HF kits are damned dangerous. You've got an earpiece in, you're trying to listen to your exhaust near the redline, you've got Grand Funk Railroad blasting out of the 8-track. No way can you be paying 'due care and attention' with all that going on.

Wurzel

iTrader: (1)

So are they going to ban people smoking in cars aswell, as in my opinion this is far more dangerous than using a phone.

1) find packet
2) get *** out of packet
3) look for lighter
4) light ***
5) put lighter away
6) smoke *** and fill car with smoke
7) throw *** out of wind thus littering the highway
7a) throw *** out of window and have *** blow back onto back seat.
7b) throw *** out of window and have *** land on lap burning bollox
8) dance around eratically whilst trying to find and exstinguish ***
9) narrowly avoid the stationary line of traffic or pedestrian you have not seen due to point 8.

damian666

... and hitting the motorcyclist filtering on the right.

JohnMcC

I think in that instance you are being stopped for driving without due care (or whatever). The point is, it is not specifically because you are, for instance, on the phone and I guess that means the law is (to a certain extent) open to interpretation.

But now, it will mean that there is no leeway - you will not be allowed to use a phone while driving, full stop - no arguments. I imagine previously, many people could argue that they were actually driving with care - but with a law specifically banning mobiles there is no argument.

I think, anyway...

[Edited by JohnMcC - 2/6/2003 10:32:58 AM]