Hands Free Paradox

[joggerjayne]

I have a mobile ... to dial, I hold it above the steering wheel, so I can see the road ahead ... then I talk ... ILLEGAL.

I have a hands free mobile, clipped on the dashboard on the other side of the car ... to dial, I lean across the car, and look across and down at the dashboard, so I CAN'T see the road ahead ... there could be ANYTHING in the road! ... then I talk ... LEGAL.

So the logic is ...

Oh, why should I care.

[rockyracoon]

Is it legal to ring out at at all whilst driving, I know answering hands free is, but not sure about ringing out.

[joggerjayne]

Good thought, rocky.

I don't know.

[rockyracoon]

I'm gonna have a google about!

[EvianBaby]

If it were then illegal to ring out then surely it should also be illegal to change your radio/cd player.

But I gave my thoughts on this matter a while ago.

[joggerjayne]

Evian ... "should" be ... but isn't.

[SlackAlice]

If your pushing buttons on your mobile then it's not hands free, when it's in a cradle or not.

[joggerjayne]

Ahaaaahh !!

[EvianBaby]

Besides which, lots of modern phones now have voice command.

[boxtops]

You need one of those mobiles where you use voice recognition - you say Switzerland, and it'll ring your BF.

[joggerjayne]

Boxy ... I'd pick something much ruder to say, he he x

[askyourgran]

We have a voice activated one which dials by name or registers the numbers you tell it to dial via bluetooth. The on/off telephone switch is on the steering wheel so you can concentrate on the road.

[rockyracoon]

No it's not illegal by the looks of it but you can still be done for dangerous driving.

[EvianBaby]

Only if you are actually driving dangerously.

[sunny-dave]

Just ban the bl**dy things whilst the engine is on (or possibly whilst the wheels are moving) - utterly unsafe whether operated by hands/voice or even kn*b for that matter.

How can you concentrate on driving (which should be a 100% activity) when making plans for a weekend of red hot rumpy-pumpy with your friend of choice ...

[rockyracoon]

Obviously Evian lol, but the way JJ said she was dailling legally sounds like that may be the case.

[EvianBaby]

I did wonder how you could see the road ahead properly if you're holding your mobile in front of your face on top of the steering wheel.

But I can see myself getting into a debate here that I really don't want to.

[jno]

sunny-dave, remember that JJ can multitask.

[joggerjayne]

I'm not sure if I drive legally.My phone synchs to the bluetooth, so I talk at the windscreen, but I hold the phone in front of my eyes so I don't have to take my eyes away from the road.

[karenmac60]

I have no friends to call so it's a moot point for me... :(

[rov1100]

Its not the object of the phone in the car that causes dangerous driving. Its the fact that your brain is diverted when communicating. Hands free they may be but that doesn't apply to your brain.