Angus World | Human Curiosity, Police

Security specialists at RoadAngel say it’s time for a zero-tolerance method to using cellphones whereas driving.

Following the legislation change final yr, it’s now fully unlawful to carry and use any cell phone, sat nav, tablets and different units which might ship and obtain knowledge, whereas driving.

The brand new laws, which got here into power in March, doubled the advantageous and the variety of penalty factors drivers may obtain if they’re caught utilizing their cell units illegally. The brand new measures have been launched following a sequence of high-profile circumstances and analysis suggesting the follow was widespread.

Motorists are permitted to make use of telephones in sure circumstances, nonetheless, comparable to making a 999 name or a contactless cost at a drive-through restaurant whereas the automotive isn’t shifting.

Palms-free entry – comparable to via voice-command programs – can also be allowed below the brand new guidelines, so long as motorists aren’t holding the units as they drive.

Which means that a smartphone displaying a maps app is allowed whether it is in a cradle and never touched by the motive force whereas driving, however confusingly the identical rule doesn’t apply to a hard and fast automotive infotainment system which the motive force can contact.

Moreover, if the cradle holding the smartphone or aftermarket sat nav system is positioned ready deemed to be obstructing sight of the highway and site visitors forward, then a advantageous and factors may quickly observe.

Gary Digva, founding father of RoadAngel mentioned that, regardless of some obvious inconsistencies within the laws, a more durable method is known as for to decisively crack down on motorists who proceed to make use of units whereas on the wheel.

He mentioned: “There’s a number of confusion round using telephones whereas driving however we expect it’s time for the police to take a a lot more durable method.

“Utilizing units whereas driving has been proven to trigger accidents. It’s time a transparent message was despatched to motorists that it’s by no means acceptable.

“If police see any driver touching their cellphone whereas behind the wheel they need to pull them over on the spot, seize the system and situation a advantageous.

“Doing so would deter drivers from utilizing their telephones behind the wheel and ship a transparent message to all highway customers that cellphone use is harmful.”

Mr Digva added that modifications within the legislation had led to confusion amongst drivers and extra wanted to be achieved to get the protection message throughout.

He continued: “Lots of people are nonetheless confused on what they’ll and may’t do with a cell phone when driving and that’s as a result of the legislation is consistently being up to date.

“Primarily, it’s now unlawful to carry a cell phone or every other system whereas driving. There are some exceptions nonetheless like if you might want to make a 999 name.

“Lots of people who don’t have a in-built infotainment system of their automotive will use their cellphone for navigation and so they nonetheless can, it simply must be in a cradle and ready that isn’t classed as obstructing the view of the motive force.

“Not solely can being in your cellphone result in hefty fines and factors however it additionally places lots of people at risk, that’s why it’s actually necessary to ensure you have the correct arrange and gear for a protected journey, regardless of the place you’re travelling.”

The legislation change closed a earlier loophole which technically permitted drivers to make use of and maintain their telephones, because it could possibly be argued they weren’t utilizing units for ‘interactive communication’, because the legislation beforehand acknowledged.

It’s now fully unlawful for these behind the wheel to even maintain their telephones and units, even when they’re switched off.

The Freeway Code additionally makes it very clear that this legislation nonetheless applies to drivers who’re stopped at site visitors lights or in queuing site visitors; when supervising a learner driver; or utilizing a automotive which has computerized stop-start know-how.

Nevertheless, there are some exceptions to the principles surrounding cell phone and touchscreen system utilization which drivers want to remain conscious of.

In an emergency motorists are legally allowed to name 999 or 112 while driving whether it is impractical or unsafe to in any other case cease the car.

Different exceptions are if the automotive is safely parked up, the motive force is making contactless cost within the automotive which isn’t shifting, comparable to in restaurant drive-throughs, or utilizing a tool to park a car remotely.

There are additionally guidelines when working units which have hands-free entry – drivers are in a position to make use of hands-free units of their vehicles, as long as they aren’t really holding them while driving.

Palms-free entry units embrace Bluetooth headsets, voice command programs, windscreen mounts, dashboard holders or built-in sat navs.

If drivers want to flip off or in any other case use units with hands-free entry, comparable to altering instructions on sat-navs and map apps, they have to pull over and park up safely to function the system legally. Motorists caught holding or utilizing cellphones or different touchscreen units whereas driving may resist six factors on their licence and a £200 advantageous, and for many who have handed their take a look at within the final two years, their driving licence could possibly be stripped away fully.

Additional tips about staying protected whereas driving could be discovered at https://www.roadangelgroup.com/.