To ask if you, or anyone you know in UK, has been caught using a phone while driving

I dont always set off when the traffic starts, Im not perfect. I dont get my phone out of my bag while driving, I dont even use hands free.

So you're wrong

You wouldn't be in trouble, touching the phone whilst it's in a cradle is not covered by the legislation.

The offence is "holding and using".

You have to be “safely parked”, which includes engine off, but I’m not sure about keys removed. Maybe it’s technically the rule but I think you’d have to have a very picky police officer to have a problem with a parked car, engine off, hand brake on, but keys in the ignition.
I do that all the time - get in the car, put the key in ignition just so I don’t have to put it somewhere else, use my phone to set up the sat nav or put on a podcast, put phone down, start car. I don’t touch the phone once actually driving.

I totally agree. The screens that show the text you’ve received so you can read it? I don’t know how they’re allowed.

My friends daughter got a 6 month driving ban! Almost lost her job.

Over 2 years ago more like 10.

It does annoy me that Google maps regularly pops up with little messages that you have to respond to in order to see the map underneath.

"There have been reports of an accident in this area, has it cleared yet?"

"Reports of mobile speed camera here, is it still present?"

"I've found a faster route, do you want to take it"

Then you cant see the bloody instructions for the insane spaghetti junction you're rapidly approaching because it insists you tap yes or no to remove the pop up! If you do nothing and wait then it takes ages to disappear.

Why are they allowed to do that? I dare say if the police saw me tapping the phone screen in it's holder to dismiss the message i would be in a world of trouble.

So just touching the phone, even if it's in a cradle or even off?

Well if that's the case they're prosecuting the wrong side. Screens that need/want attention while car is moving should be illegal.

Keys removed? Can't be many cars with an ignition key these days. Car off will suffice.

All the drivers I see using their phones while driving, speeding etc and no sign of any traffic police anywhere. Except the ones who pulled me over, flashing lights etc, and fined me for having too dark tint on the side windows.

I’m sure I heard that you actually aren’t even allowed to touch car screens, same rules apply as if it was a phone, you can look at the sat nav but not touch the screen, think majority use voice commands

I agree, those huge screens in cars are terrible. Mine let's me know when I get a text, then gives me the option to read it on the screen, then reply!

I'm not UK, but we have massive fines (approx £500) if caught touching your phone. It doubles on long weekends & holiday periods.

Plenty get caught because we have cameras that pick it up. I know two people who got done with the phone just sitting in their lap. Still, plenty do it. I can't afford it & have bought a car with Bluetooth!!

You can use a phone while driving, you can hold a phone while driving, but you can't hold and use a phone whilst in control of a vehicle.

You can indeed park on the hard shoulder, (in an emergency) and hold and use a phone.

Being stationary in a live lane on a motorway isn't being parked.

It's so easy to spot so many of them when driving.

Next time you're sat in a queue at traffic lights or whatever, watch for cars who aren't paying attention and don't set off when the traffic starts moving. It's called the phone gap.

Probably every other week or more I'll see another driver, in the middle of the day, weaving about and driving erratically. I used to assume they were drunk; now I know they're on their phones.

It's appallingly dangerous and I'm pleased it's one of those things we take a harder stance on (a 6-point offence, not a 3-pointer).

What I truly can't believe is how in new cars the displays are basically like large iPads or small TVs! It's completely unnecessary and so distracting.

I was in a police car and the policewoman driving shouted to the car next to us to put her phone down. I don't know if she wasn't dealing with me whether she would of pulled her over

Only ever use Bluetooth- not worth it.
But always see other people driving whilst using phones

No, and no. I don't think I could be friends with someone who drove using their phone.

Loads of drivers still do it. About 1 in 10 as I see them every single day when I'm walking. I understand new cameras are being installed to catch them.

I know this answer.

Engine needs to be off and keys removed. Even if in a layby.
Source : my drivers awareness course - I don't know if it was true, but that is what we were told.

I'm sure you won't know, but if you're stuck in a traffic jam, parked on the motorway, say, can you not use your phone then? What if you turn your engine off?

It's very dependent on the area you live. We live very close to the border of two police authorities. One is very stringent about prosecuting photographic/video evidence of a driver using their phone, the other seems to often find reasons why the evidence is insubmittable. Shocking that there's so much variance, but here we are.

Yep someone I know got photographed using their phone whilst stationary, stuck in a traffic jam. Photo went to the police and he got points and a ban as the points pushed him over the limit.
I think it must be harder to enforce than speeding so you don’t hear so
many cases but I also wish the would enforce it properly. I regularly cycle to work and see drivers using phones whilst driving (not stationary) all the time, weaving all over the road.

Yes my niece got caught looking at her phone while sitting at some lights. She got a telling off but they didn't give her a fine or penalty.