To think this isn't breaking the law re mobiles

[sharktoothcushion]

So I don't get to watch TV so sometimes plug my phone into the speakers of my car on my commute to work and listen to my favourite TV programmes.

My phone is in my handbag so not watching just listening.

A couple of my friends have commented saying if I get caught I will get points, but how is listening to a TV programme different from regular radio shows, or the news!

[Unpropergrammer]

Pretty sure that's not illegal if you aren't touching your phone whilst driving

[Coulddowithanap]

I can't see that being a problem if you set it up before you turn your engine on and only touch your phone again when you finish your journey.

[Trifleorbust]

I don't think so - you are not 'using the phone' if you aren't touching or watching it, surely? Check the law though.

[sharktoothcushion]

Thanks, I keep likening it to listening to the Archers etc, I use Netflix so the programmes just roll together.

But it has got me thinking, if you use iTunes on your phone instead of the radio, if you want to change a song, would you be in trouble?

I can skip to the next song on the home page, so no more complicated than pressing the skip button on the actual radio..

[FeliciaJollygoodfellow]

You can't do anything that requires touching the phone. Have you not seen that video of the lorry driver who was changing his music and went into the back of a car killing all of them?

If you have it wired to your steering wheel that's fine, or skip using the buttons on the radio. You can't feel your way round an iphone like you can a radio.

[HighwayDragon1]

I want to know about smart watches, so I get a text and read it on my watch is it still illegal, because my mobile is away and both hands are on the steering wheel.

[Dizzy199]

If you have an accident and the police check the activity on your phone and see netflix was running at the time you are likely to struggle to convince them you weren't looking at the screen. I wouldn't risk it personally.

[MiladyThesaurus]

I'm not sure how it's different to using your phone to play music or listen to an audiobook.

You must be rinsing through data though.

[sharktoothcushion]

I have smart watch too! So yeah that's another thing!

I am sure my dads car fully connects with his phone, to the point it reads his texts our loud too!

[HermioneJeanGranger]

How do you prove it was in your bag if you get into an accident?

[PebbleInTheMoonlight]

If you read a message on your watch, it will be marked as read on the device. If you have an accident minutes later the police could definitely attribute blame to you and driving without due care and attention.

Same applies to radio, MP3 player etc...if they can prove that you weren't 100% focused on the road and driving (eg changing radio station).

Remember there are a lot of drivers with dashcams and CCTV on major routes with known accident hotspots so gaining evidence would be fairly straight forward.