To have been on my phone while driving

[Ihaveaquestionn]

Okay okay… I know I was being unreasonable but I want to know what might happen next

I was Driving from nursery drop-off to pick up a prescription - turned onto the road where the doctors surgery and pharmacy are located.

I got a call from nursery and answered using hands free in my car but it wasn’t connecting so I picked up my phone from the seat next to me. I spoke to my daughters key worker briefly (around 30 seconds) while driving about 5mph slowly into a car park.

I noticed a man in a parked car (he was parked mounted on the kerb and idling!!!) was very obviously talking to his passenger about me being on the phone while driving and looked like he was taking a photo of me! He was holding his phone up sideways in my direction.

What will happen if he reports me? As I said I know what I did was wrong but he was also breaking the law by sitting there with his engine on!

Wouldn't worry about it. Isn't parking on the pavement an offence anyway?

You are a dangerous idiot for doing that.

You shouldn’t have done it, it’s illegal. Regardless of whether he was breaking the law himself - his behaviour doesn’t excuse yours! I suppose it depends who he was, a civilian can’t really report you.

Why did you answer your phone?

Be grateful a small child didn't run in front of you. They do that in car parks.

Nothing will happen, how could anyone know if you were moving at the time for instance?

The police aren't routinely reviewing people's photographs to try and issue fines for small offenses

Clearly you should have put it on loudspeaker and put the phone down though

Clearly you should have put it on loudspeaker and put the phone down though

Ignore it, park, call back? No allowances for handling a phone while driving.

I know!

I know - I feel really stupid for doing it!

You're a dangerous idiot. Pull over and call them back next time.

but he was also breaking the law by sitting there with his engine on!

Are you planning on putting in a counter-claim / report if he has reported you? Did you take a pic?

no?

then this is irrelevant to your dilemna . He is the one with the picture of a driving offence which carries a far greater tariff than pavement parking or idling

Google suggests if he was really determined some forces are able to take video reports. More likely you'll end up on a local Facebook group.

west-midlands.police.uk/your-options/using-mobile-phone-while-driving

At worst you'll get a fine.

Please make sure you're connected to hands free next time and set your phone to do not disturb if you can't.

You can get 6 penalty points and I think a (£100 - £200) fine.

Though you seem more concerned about “what will happen” rather than “I’m so ashamed I could have caused an accident or hit someone”.

Just don’t do it again.

Yes I did take a picture of him parked on the pavement actually as he was still there when I left!

Oh yes hadn’t thought of that - possibly more terrifying than a fine/points

I know that’s how it has come across but I’ve already been through all that in my own head and while I expected people to call me out for it on here, it wasn’t the point of my post as I know how stupid it was

Just saw it was nursery and panicked I guess

Two photographs a couple of seconds apart.

Police do prosecute on evidence like this, but I reckon most people who take pictures like this never forward them, they are just making a (valid) point.

Well he can send in an image or video footage of you if he really wanted to, usually though it's dash cam footage that is submitted, as some police forces have asked the public to do it if they see it. So a civilian can report another member of the public for breaking the law, provided they have evidence.
I doubt anything will happen, just take it as a lesson learned and don't pick up your phone again whilst driving.

That’s fine you took a picture, and maybe your local council will be interested in sending out enforcement officers at some point in the distant future… but you’re not going to get the police out for that one

He on the other hand may or may not have an image of a driving offence which has increased in importance to police forces nationally and can lead to six points and a fine.

I’m just trying to say that because he broke some rules also, you think you have a case against him, is completely irrelevant unless you’re hoping to blackmail him so he stands down from reporting you (which I’m sure you weren’t thinking of doing).

As I said I know what I did was wrong but he was also breaking the law by sitting there with his engine on!

Sorry but this is an appalling attitude. Whether he was breaking the law or not is irrelevant to the risk you were taking. A quick Google search will show you how often people using their mobile phones kill other road users.

I doubt anything will happen to you but if you do end up with a fine and points then please just be grateful it's not a prison sentence and a lifelong guilty conscience.

You exercised poor judgement but, on this occasion, no one was hurt; you can decide not to do it again.

You should have just pulled over and answered it, makes me mad when people pick up their phones. Turn it over or leave it in your bag from now on

so the point of your post is….? You want to know what will happen?

How on earth can anyone of us tell you that? We aren’t psychic. We don’t know if this guy has reported your or not. If you wanna go and hand yourself in and ask the police then you’ll get your answer. But like I said, caught using a mobile phone when driving can be up to 6 points and £200 fine.

If he took a video of you driving whilst using your phone and passes it to the police, they can give you 6 points and a fine. Video evidence can be used - I have a friend who got points for running a Red light after a cyclist submitted gopro footage.

Best just to keep your phone out of reach in the car. An ex boyfriend got 6 points for picking up his phone to check the time at a red light.