Mobile phones have become a pervasive element in modern society. They are the only item which we keep no more than 4 feet away from us at any one time. They have naturally found their way into the vehicles that we drive. It is a sight that has become quite common place. Drivers using a phone whilst at the wheel of a car however it is not legal to do so.
Using a mobile phone when driving has been against the law since 2003 for the reason that it is unsafe to do so. The kind of devices that are not to be used are hand held phones.
The law defines a hand held phone as a phone which must be held at some point during a conversation or other communication. This means that texting on a mobile phone or browsing the internet on a smartphone is also prohibited whilst driving.
Phone calls using a hand held mobile phone can only be made by the driver of a vehicle when he or she is parked. It is not permitted to use a mobile while stopped in traffic as in the event of a traffic jam as this is deemed to be included as driving time.
There are exceptions to the rules where there is an emergency and it is unsafe to stop. These rules do not apply to two way radios however as they are not governed by the same law.
The penalties for being caught driving whilst using a hand held mobile phone are either a £30 fixed penalty or up to £1000 if a conviction is made in court. If either the driver of a goods vehicle or bus is caught using a mobile phone while driving the fine can be as much as £2500. There is also a three point penalty for being caught using a mobile phone whilst driving.
This has fuelled the popularity of hands free sets for use in vehicles. A hands free set for use with a mobile phone is allowed to be used whilst driving as long as when the phone is used it can be done so without holding it. However use of a hands free kit could justify charges of careless driving in the event of an accident. Navigation aids such as SatNav and GPS which could be deemed as devices that could interfere with the drivers attention are allowed to be used whilst driving.
If your business involves driving for a living it is best to err on the side of caution and go hands free.
About this Author
Calum Polr writes for Cab Direct a taxi sales company
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