Offense Code 125 - £100 + 3 points

[86JR]

I don't really know what is more dangerous, people looking down at their sat-navs and phones whilst driving or the new law which causes people to stop in the middle of A and B roads to text their friends.

I would say the latter tbh, most of them don't even use their hazards!

 

[86JR]

Burnsy, is it true that mobiles have to be completely turned off whilst driving to avoid getting points?

 

[andi]

Well the offence is to use it. So no.

 

[Burnsy2023]

Burnsy, is it true that mobiles have to be completely turned off whilst driving to avoid getting points?

Well the offence is to use it. So no.

As above. Just put it in a cradle and then you don't have an issue.

 

[TheVoice]

Burnsy, is it true that mobiles have to be completely turned off whilst driving to avoid getting points?

Of course not, people use their phones as their sat-nav after all.

 

[miniyazz]

Is this 'drunk in charge' law ridiculous enough that I can't have a few bevvies and go to sleep in my camper van?!

 

[Deleted member 66701]

I hope your being sarcastic, because if not you really are a dumbass.

no one pulls over to get a bottle of water out and drink it.

You need to have a good think before calling someone else a dumbass - glass houses 'an all that.

I didn't say people don't take a drink whilst driving. I said that they shouldn't.

That's not the point. What other people do is irrelevant, and can never work as a defense.

You are meant to pull over if you want to drink. It's not to be done while driving.

Glad someone got what I meant

Is this 'drunk in charge' law ridiculous enough that I can't have a few bevvies and go to sleep in my camper van?!

You can - as long as you don't sit/sleep near the controls - i.e. in the front seat. If you have a front seat that forms part of the sleeping area, you'll usually find that these swivel "away" from the controls - so it would be fine to sleep in the front seat in that position.

 

[miniyazz]

You can - as long as you don't sit/sleep near the controls - i.e. in the front seat. If you have a front seat that forms part of the sleeping area, you'll usually find that these swivel "away" from the controls - so it would be fine to sleep in the front seat in that position.

Reassuring, thanks!

 

[zain]

If the phone is in a cradle and you touch it, is that a fine?

What if you have start/stop and at the lights your engine is off and you touch the phone, put it back and move the car?

The judge dredd's of the thread saying "THIS IS THE LAW!" need not answer!

 

[Deleted member 66701]

If the phone is in a cradle and you touch it, is that a fine?

Yes, but only if your remain in FULL control of the vehicle - I wouldn't chance it. If you need to program a new route on a sat nav app for example I'd play it safe and pull over somewhere safe to do it. Adjusting the volume with a rocker on the side should be fine though.

What if you have start/stop and at the lights your engine is off and you touch the phone, put it back and move the car?

No - as you're in the flow of traffic. You should remove your vehicle from the flow of traffic and stop in a safe place before interacting with a hand held device.

The judge dredd's of the thread saying "THIS IS THE LAW!" need not answer!

 

[Burnsy2023]

If the phone is in a cradle and you touch it, is that a fine?

As long as you are in proper control of the vehicle and the phone remains in the cradle, then yes, that's fine.

 

[Phantom Shadow]

I know of a few hgv drivers who have been prosecuted for drink driving having been breath tested whilst parked up for the night (which itself is a legal requirement) and at the time of the "offence" have been unable to drive, by law, for hours!
The mere fact they were in the vehicle with keys was enough!

You can - as long as you don't sit/sleep near the controls - i.e. in the front seat. If you have a front seat that forms part of the sleeping area, you'll usually find that these swivel "away" from the controls - so it would be fine to sleep in the front seat in that position.

Scania were the hgv drivers sat in the front seat or asleep in the bed? I would have thought parked up for the night would mean in the bed getting some sleep, so then amigafan's advice may not quite be accurate.

Just had a quick google and a couple of solicitors websites would suggest that even sitting in the passenger or back seat could mean you are in charge of the vehicle if you have entered it yourself with the keys.

 

[miniyazz]

Also there are considerably stricter laws around HGVs so it might not be directly comparable. On the other hand, I imagine drunk in charge of an HGV would result in loss of livelihood which seems incredibly unfair if the vehicle's use was simply to go to sleep in the bunk.
I suppose the other question might be when they're going to drive it again and how much they'd had to drink.

 

[Deleted member 66701]

imagine drunk in charge of an HGV would result in loss of livelihood which seems incredibly unfair if the vehicle's use was simply to go to sleep in the bunk.

I imagine 99% of HGV drivers play it safe and simply don't drink alcohol whilst in charge of a HGV unit.

I mean, it's not like anyone NEEDS to drink an alcoholic drink is it?

 

[MooMoo444]

If the phone is in a cradle and you touch it, is that a fine?

It's not a fine, it's fine.

 

[atpbx]

Because police officers cease to function when the police office is closed?

No of course not, we get police from Lincoln instead.

 

[Windle]

I imagine 99% of HGV drivers play it safe and simply don't drink alcohol whilst in charge of a HGV unit.

I mean, it's not like anyone NEEDS to drink an alcoholic drink is it?

I walk the dog every day past a gated industrial estate (heavy industry) which gets HGVs in all day every day, they frequently park up on the road outside overnight when tramping. Judging by the amount of beer cans I frequently see lying on the grass next to where they park I suspect it's more prevalent than you think!

 

[Django x2]

http://www.nopenaltypoints.co.uk/drinking-eating-while-driving.html

I don't drink or eat anything other than a boiled sweet (which my wife unwraps for me) when I'm driving. If you're driving then you should be driving. If you want to eat or drink then pull over into a layby. What do you think layby's are for People have been fined for eating and/or drinking whilst driving.

I disagree with cup holders in car and a lot of manufacturers are removing them now. My cars don't have cup holder s- they normally go in rep mobiles and my cars are a calass above rep mobiles.

Your car is a class above a BMW or Merc or Audi? Please, continue...

 

[Django x2]

The problem with phones in a car whilst on is, it's a distraction. If you were involved in an accident and your phone was on, even if not in use, if you take the highway code literally with the Must, Must Not, Should, Should Not then you could well be prosecuted. The same goes for phones in cradles on the screen or even satnavs given that, bar the tax disc holder, and rear view mirror, there should be nothing obstructing your windscreen.

Having said that, my phone is always connected to my cars bluetooth, and it sits in the centre console in my car, and as long as BT handsfree is available, that's what I'll be using.

 

[Myshra]

Your car is a class above a BMW or Merc or Audi? Please, continue...

I don't think they are removing them, just making them optional extras http://jalopnik.com/ferrari-will-charge-you-3-533-for-a-carbon-fiber-cupho-898949796