When the new law comes in the only way to make /receive calls in a car will be via the Hard wired car kit or Blue tooth. :D

So buy one now before they go up in price

Isn't this the same when u swap cd's or radio station so will u be done for the same offence :confused:????

[Edited by In Disguise - 11/3/2003 7:52:38 PM]

Just reading up about this to try to understand the definition of "hands free".

The Department for Transport says:

The use of a hand-held phone or similar hand-held device while driving will be prohibited. A hand-held device is something that "is or must be held at some point during the course of making or receiving a call or performing any other interactive communication function".

Okay, that's pretty clear - yak away with your phone in your hand and you're busted.

On to Q2:

Q2. Is hands-free phone equipment allowed?
Provided that a phone can be operated without holding it, then hands-free equipment is not prohibited by the new regulation.

So does this ban the ear piece hands free you get with Nokias? Is an ear piece classed as being held? :unsure:

Personally, I'm happy to turn my phone off whilst driving - work can wait to hassle me :D

Chris

I'm part of a very large organisation and they have said that the use of earpieces or headsets is not the issue, it is the hard mount fixing of the phone itself ie if you have to physically hold the phone to dial then you are in breach of the new law.

So the cheap way to do this is by using an earpiece and a phone holder thats stuck to your dash.

Pete

Or get a headset and 'phone which support voice dialling.

i thought it was stated somewhere that the earpiece on a wire solution was no-go? :confused:

Perhaps not "hands free", but maybe if you drive strangely as you don't want your earpiece pulled out (eg you don't look over your shoulder when appropriate), there may be some general charge like "not fully in control of the vehicle" or some such.

Where's 5-O?

personally for the sake of 80 quid you may as well just buy a proper hands free kit that turns your radio down, charges your phone etc.

They are excellent!

surely this is simple? if you have to hold the phone then its not allowed....this means the phone has to be hard mounted in a cradle or bluetooth in your pocket.

whether you have system that plays via the stereo, its own speaker an ear piece or you just listen very hard and try to hear the phone when its 2ft away on the dash is up to you.

they cant ban talking while driving or listening while driving....but they can make you keep your hands off your phone.....good idea too....should be £5k fine if you ignore it.


T

the proper car kits are pretty good but what annoys me is:
1) why don't all new cars come pre-wired for these?
2) why can't the phone companies get their sh*t together and make a universal connector. why do you have to change the cradle, and often the entire kit, every time you upgrade your phone? you don't have to have your house re-wired every time you buy a new appliance.

Also I dont like having those brackets fitted to the dash - always creates new rattles in the process.

1) why don't all new cars come pre-wired for these?

good point! (bmw do ;) )

2) why can't the phone companies get their sh*t together and make a universal connector.

bluetooth!

Also I dont like having those brackets fitted to the dash

bluetooth!

T

Hello

Isn't this going to be rather difficult to prove?

Steve.

Boxst

Not if at the time of the accident you were either making or receiving a call - they can & do take records of calls

From what I understand almost ANY hands free kit is fine - so the simple, cheap microphone/ear-piece is included - you just can't do more than 'press a button' to use the 'phone. So dialing the number is out (even if held in a bracket) but voice-activated or one-touch dialing or hit the button to answer is OK. And if on hands-free then set it to auto-answer.

They can prove you're on the 'phone at a certain time (and who instigated the call) but they can't prove how you dialled. It'll be *interesting* to see how the *law* is applied. Also, remember you can't get points for a while. From Dec. 1st you'll get a fine but they have to change the law to give you points. That will obviously be the centre-piece of the Queens speech as Tony Bliar will want to show the proliateriat (that's us guys ...) that he has the home front under control ...

Dave

PS: I think the fine is only £30 - a *friend* got fined £20 a while ago for using a hand held mobile in the car. Serves her right - she couldn't damn well drive without a 'phone to her ear ....

Good to see no-one has a clue either :D

Couple of links

http://www.theregister.co.uk/content/68/33731.html

On the Bluetooth front:

http://www.theregister.co.uk/content/archive/27889.html

"The problem is that the phrase "Bluetooth hands-free" is also being used to market the hi-tech ear covers which let you walk down the street talking to yourself. As you rightly state, these are no different to the existing wired headsets in terms of driver distraction and would (and should) be banned by the proposed legislation. With no initial input from the Bluetooth community, the consultation document has confused the modes of Bluetooth usage and quite understandably allows itself to be read both as banning and encouraging Bluetooth - it all depends where the handset is within the car. "

Telling you to take legal advice is a right cop-out by the DoT :rolleyes:

My Question is....What about the TAXI driver who picks the mic up say every 20mins whilst driving and speaking with ONE hand?

I bet this is still gonna be ok :rolleyes:

Looks like there gonna get away with it......again...

{quote]
My Question is....What about the TAXI driver who picks the mic up say every 20mins whilst driving and speaking with ONE hand
[/quote]

Been in the courier/private hire trade for many years & this is already illegal. I have known drivers stopped. Due care and attention.

But of course this wont apply to the cops..."Cos they all have special training!!!)