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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

to ask you to settle this debate

26 replies

polarpig · 10/04/2019 12:30

If a driver is using their phone to play music on and they occasionally press the on screen button to skip to the next track is that illegal because it's being played on phone or is it treated the same as pressing the button on the in car stereo to skip the track?

OP posts:
OhioOhioOhio · 10/04/2019 12:31

I'd say it's illegal.

Aimily · 10/04/2019 12:31

Unfortunately yes, they are handling the phone, it's against the law. Even if they aren't looking at it, it's classed as a distraction.

NewGrandad · 10/04/2019 12:32

Yup it's illegal. Even if parked, say at lights, if the engine is running you can't touch your phone.

LetsGroove2nite · 10/04/2019 12:33

Illegal

AryaStarkWolf · 10/04/2019 12:33

Probably illegal but yeah it isn't much different to fiddling with your car radio

WhoKnewBeefStew · 10/04/2019 12:34

It’s illegal to touch your phone whilst driving.

A truck driver recently ended up in prison as a result of being charged with death by dangerous driving. He hit a car on the motorway, killing its occupants, as a result of looking down at his phone and changing a music track.

Original poster
polarpig · 10/04/2019 12:35

That's what I thought, thanks I love being proved right

OP posts:
AuntMarch · 10/04/2019 12:37

It's very hard to use the controls on a phone without looking away from the road, because you can't feel them/have to wake the screen.
A cd player/radio controls can be felt.

I've assumed that's the reasoning - but it's definitely a no no

PlainSpeakingStraightTalking · 10/04/2019 12:38

www.rac.co.uk/drive/advice/legal/mobile-phone-laws/

PlainSpeakingStraightTalking · 10/04/2019 12:39

www.gov.uk/using-mobile-phones-when-driving-the-law

BabyDarlingDollfaceHoney · 10/04/2019 13:09

Is it illegal if you're using your phone as a satnav?

BabyDarlingDollfaceHoney · 10/04/2019 13:10

Oh I see it needs a dashboard holder.

WhoKnewBeefStew · 10/04/2019 13:20

Even with a dash holder, you’re not allowed to touch it. You can follow the onscreen directions but not touch the phone

Lifecraft · 10/04/2019 13:22

Even with a dash holder, you’re not allowed to touch it. You can follow the onscreen directions but not touch the phone

Nope, you are allowed to touch a phone in a dashboard holder. so long as you don't take it out of the holder.

Honeyroar · 10/04/2019 13:24

It just says it's illegal to hold a phone. It says they an be used on a dashboard holder, so surely they could be used as a music player or sat nav if on a dashboard holder.

IWannaSeeHowItEnds · 10/04/2019 13:24

I think this is mad. My dad's car has a screen that requires constant touching to change between satnav, radio, temperature control etc. It's way more distracting than occasionally touching a mobile phone.

CallipygianFancier · 10/04/2019 13:27

Handheld is not allowed, in a dash mount etc is OK.

HomeMadeMadness · 10/04/2019 13:29

Yes illegal. TO be fair even fiddling with your radio is dangerous if done at the wrong time.

ZippyBungleandGeorge · 10/04/2019 13:31

Surely if you are playing music from your phone through your car you can use you car stereo or steering wheel controls to change tracks?

DGRossetti · 10/04/2019 13:55

Surely if you are playing music from your phone through your car you can use you car stereo or steering wheel controls to change tracks?

Well, you'd think. But the number of people yakking into their phones when driving suggests that "bluetooth" has passed entire generations by.

flirtygirl · 10/04/2019 13:56

Just get a dash mount.

TarragonSauce · 10/04/2019 14:31

I have a dashboard mount and a £40 car stereo with a usb plug. I plug my phone into the stereo and from then on use the stereo controls and if I'm using google maps to navigate then I put the phone in the dashboard mount.

Original poster
polarpig · 10/04/2019 14:35

i just play it through the phone speaker when I am driving but I'll have a look at bluetooth - I've never bothered with it as I only drive short distances. I don't touch the phone by the way, it just came up in conversation when DD and I were listening to music in the car. I'm so paranoid about it that I only use my phone in the car when the engine is turned off and the keys are out of the ignition!

OP posts:
DGRossetti · 10/04/2019 15:47

i just play it through the phone speaker when I am driving but I'll have a look at bluetooth - I've never bothered with it as I only drive short distances.

Checkout drivemode.com/ ... it allows you to setup your phone so that when it connects to your cars bluetooth, it automatically engages "driving mode" (so calls are diverted to voicemail and the caller gets a text saying "I'm Driving") and can be set to autostart the media player ... so you get in your car, start up, and it's instant music Grin

cardibach · 10/04/2019 15:59

The problem with driver mode is I’d like to know someone has called me - if it’s my DD for example, I’d pull over and call back. On Bluetooth, though, calls come through to the sound system, which is even more useful.