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New Mobile Phone Penalties Affect SatNav Use Too
Article by: Darren Griffin
Date: 3 Mar 2017
Penalties for drivers caught using a mobile phone increased on March 1st with a fine of £200 and six penalty points.
But many are confused about when and where they can use their phone legally and few realise that these penalties also affect using your smartphone as a satnav too.
It is illegal to use a handheld mobile phone whilst you are driving. This also applies to internet connected devices such as tablets and media players. The 'whilst driving' part means anytime you are not parked so using whilst stuck in traffic, at a red light etc is also prohibited.
If you are using your phone in satnav mode then you should have it in a fixed holder and may not interact with it at all. So no tapping menus, switching modes etc. Dedicated satnav devices are not included in this legislation but if you're distracted whilst using one then existing careless or dangerous driving legislation can be used.
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 Posted by Davidwf on Fri Mar 03, 2017 8:12 am |
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so, are you allowed to tap the screen to answer it handsfree using the in-built loudspeaker ?.... surely no different from, say, switching radio stations or operating other switches in the car
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| Posted by jonchill on Fri Mar 03, 2017 8:15 am |
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I read somewhere that the only place you could legally use a phone was parked up at the side of the road with the engine turned off, not in traffic or at lights etc, so all those people that just stop anywhere to answer a call are breaking the law.
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| Posted by nekillim on Fri Mar 03, 2017 8:20 am |
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I am waiting for the first pictures of MPs, and Police using them whilst driving!!!
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| Posted by Kritou on Fri Mar 03, 2017 8:26 am |
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Can someone quote the section of this new legislation that specifically excludes "interacting" with the device (phone) when it is being used as a satnav and is in a holder?
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| Posted by sussamb on Fri Mar 03, 2017 8:36 am |
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I doubt it because that, despite the reports, is legal. The legislation is about the use of hand held phones, by definition one in a holder is not 'hand held'.
Where there's a will ... there's a way. |
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| Posted by Kritou on Fri Mar 03, 2017 8:42 am |
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OK - so Darren's report above "If you are using your phone in satnav mode then you should have it in a fixed holder and may not interact with it at all" is misleading?
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| Posted by TieJustice on Fri Mar 03, 2017 8:44 am |
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It's quite simple,
you may not use ANY electronic device when in control of a vehicle (driver) ( mobile phone, satnav tablets, ( if it has a screen and you have to touch it, to interact with it, this includes built into the car, and even hands free can be used against you if you are found using it in a RTA)
In control of a vehicle, any time you are not parked ( in a safe legal and convenient place)
So waiting in traffic including traffice lights is in control of a vehicle.
So as in the new driving test, includes satnav, they stop in a safe, legal, conveneant place, then set the satnav for the independent driving.
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| Posted by Davidwf on Fri Mar 03, 2017 8:52 am |
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surely no different to changing radio stations or switching something on / off ????
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| Posted by Kritou on Fri Mar 03, 2017 8:57 am |
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I don't want to be pedantic but if a Satnav has touchscreen zoom buttons I cannot use them when driving - but the mechanical ones on my Garmin Quest are OK?
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| Posted by MrGumby on Fri Mar 03, 2017 9:08 am |
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| jonchill Wrote: | | I read somewhere that the only place you could legally use a phone was parked up at the side of the road with the engine turned off, not in traffic or at lights etc, so all those people that just stop anywhere to answer a call are breaking the law. |
AND with the key out of the ignition, I believe. How that affects drivers of cars without physical keys, I have no idea.
PS Why do people say "parked up" instead of just "parked"? I'm not criticising, just fascinated to now where on earth the expression came from - it's quite recent.
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| Posted by sussamb on Fri Mar 03, 2017 9:08 am |
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| TieJustice Wrote: | It's quite simple,
you may not use ANY electronic device when in control of a vehicle (driver) ( mobile phone, satnav tablets, ( if it has a screen and you have to touch it, to interact with it, this includes built into the car, and even hands free can be used against you if you are found using it in a RTA)
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Really? Where did you get that information from? It's not in any law I know?
The only possibility is if you're deemed to be not in full control. It's perfectly legal to touch satnavs etc, although advice is to avoid doing so.
Where there's a will ... there's a way. |
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