Well it's post Dec 1st and in the UK you can no longer use a mobile phone while driving unless it's a 'hands-free' kit. The first £30 fines have been dished out in Scotland but in England the Police will only be giving out warnings for the next 2 months. They don't believe public awareness of the new legislation is wide enough yet.
Well what can you do and what can't you do? First of all what do they mean by 'driving', think of it like this - if your engine is running you are driving. So even if you pull over you aren't out of the woods unless you turn off the ignition. Ok so we know we are driving, just what is it we are not allowed to do with our mobile phones? In short you are not permitted to hold the phone, even if it's not turned on, even if you use your neck and shoulder instead of your hands. You are allowed to make and receive mobile calls while driving if at no point do you actually hold the phone. So you can dial a number on a phone secured in a hands free cradle because you don't have to hold the phone. You could use an earpiece and mic setup to receive a call if you set your phone to automatic answer, but if you pick up the phone to hang up or dial another number you will be breaking the law.
So to sum up, you can't hold a mobile phone while the engine is running. You can make phone calls while driving so long as you don't hold the phone. You can press buttons on the phone so long as you don't actually hold the phone. If by use of a mobile phone while driving you are not in control of your vehicle for any reason you are breaking the law, and would have been even before the latest legislation.
Contact us if you have any questions or comments. One user mailed us asking if they could make a call if they were supervising a learner driver. We did a bit of research and it looks like you would be breaking the law.
