I would say yes. Afaik you are not supposed to touch the phone while the engine is running. I assume it would come down to how zealous the officer seeing you do it is.
I see so many people on phones every day it's ridiculous.
6 points & £200 fine for phone while driving going live today
- Thread starter Diddums
- Start date
I see so many people on phones every day it's ridiculous.
Are you kidding? They were reading BBC News and will have seen this story and immediately stopped looking at their phone 
As to people saying it's pointless and no police to enforce it, would you rather have no laws as there aren't enough policemen to police everything?! The law is there so that if someone is caught there is an appropriate punishment in place to deal with them, or in cases where they aren't caught the hope is that the chance is enough of a deterrent.
From https://www.gov.uk/using-mobile-phones-when-driving-the-law (emphasis added):
As to people saying it's pointless and no police to enforce it, would you rather have no laws as there aren't enough policemen to police everything?! The law is there so that if someone is caught there is an appropriate punishment in place to deal with them, or in cases where they aren't caught the hope is that the chance is enough of a deterrent.
From https://www.gov.uk/using-mobile-phones-when-driving-the-law (emphasis added):
This. You also shouldn't talk to anyone sat in the car.
Please turn the radio off and drive in silence.
Thanks.
I'm not going to lie my gloves make using my phone a right pain so I have to go through the process of ungloving while keeping the bike at a steady three figures to give me more stability but those messages aren't going to read themselves!
Wow there is also some heavy sexism in this thread!
You know what I see men doing a lot more? Driving ridiculously aggressively, tailgating, undertaking etc etc and I don't think that's up for debate so perhaps chill a bit driving gods!
You know what I see men doing a lot more? Driving ridiculously aggressively, tailgating, undertaking etc etc and I don't think that's up for debate so perhaps chill a bit driving gods!
I think they should smash them with a big hammer at the side of the road. Much less admin
When I was in college (late 90s/early 00s) there was a lecturer who would nail mobile phones to the wall if he caught people using them in class lol. I bet you couldn't get away with that now.
When I was in college (late 90s/early 00s) there was a lecturer who would nail mobile phones to the wall if he caught people using them in class lol. I bet you couldn't get away with that now.
The people or the phonesI think they should smash them with a big hammer at the side of the road. Much less admin
about time tbh! should be even more, I'd go for instant ban - this would put a lot off, the number of people I see driving and texting in london is CRAZY.. I literally cannot believe it sometimes, I've had a woman drive into the back of me while waiting at a traffic light(on my bike) and she was oblivious because her car rolled forwards while she was texting and she had no idea.
There's another further up and we're only on page 1.. "90% of this is women" and then another about hair and mekkup and then the one about hags.
Just saying.. men are just as capable of driving like idiots and where I will say my anecdotal observations would suggest that the fairer sex might be slightly more interested in their phones it's most definitely the chaps who end up driving like total lunatics regardless of whether they're on the phone or not. Presumably less time on the phone means more time for practicing your slipstreaming before the blind corner overtake.
Man of Honour
- Joined
- 17 Nov 2003
- Posts
- 36,747
- Location
- Southampton, UK
Just a quick summary of the law around this, people don't realise it's actually quite a narrow definition.
To prove the offence, you must be:
It's worth noting, that whilst many of my examples would mean that the mobile phone legislation wouldn't' be applicable, it may fall into the offence of not being in proper control of a vehicle or driving without due care and attention, but both of these are generally a £100 fine and 3 points unless tried at court.
To prove the offence, you must be:
- Driving a motor vehicle on a road or supervising someone who is.
- Using a handheld device for an interactive communication function.
It's worth noting, that whilst many of my examples would mean that the mobile phone legislation wouldn't' be applicable, it may fall into the offence of not being in proper control of a vehicle or driving without due care and attention, but both of these are generally a £100 fine and 3 points unless tried at court.
What was she charged with? Driving without due care and attention?
No, I don't think so. However if you pick the phone up to change the playlist or whatever, then you'll be breaking the law.
Dangerous driving is hard to prove, hence the reason they brought in the phone law initially which is an absolute offence.
Personally I would like to see more traffic cops on the road, as increasing the penalties on it's own isn't much of a deterrent unless the chances of being caught are high.
Re the talking being as distracting as using the phone, you're likely to be looking at the phone for at least some of the time, and taking your hands off the wheel unnecessarily for the phone use, which means it's a risk in addition to the talking.
Man of Honour
- Joined
- 5 Jun 2003
- Posts
- 91,787
- Location
- Falling...
the point is, that if someone is in the car with you and you stop talking they can see you're trying to navigate, or concentrate on something or are distracted by cars/traffic or whatever.
A person on the phone cannot. It's easy to stop talking when the other person realises why and you're not having to explain what you do.