Is a driver allowed to use any other equipment like a hands-free mobile phone or 2-way radio equipment?

Craigy P

No, it's illegal to use any hand held equipment when driving. Also "driving" is defined as having the engine on and the handbrake off.

hz_bf_oya

technically yes they can if they have like those holders and an ear piece and have complete control of their vehicle but its a little extreme if you are eating and talking on the phone its dangerous to do that we should have some freedom seriously its our own car but we need to take it serious when it comes to driving

jerry

no maybe 2 way radio,,but not all the time

the Jamster

when his vehicle is in motion NO.
But parked up out of the way with the engine off and the keys out of the ignition then apparently this is legal.

Thanks

tomwilli_2000

Yes, but surely smoking and eating is more distarcting maybe they should be banned

maximizingman

as far as im aware,both are ok to use in uk,e.g. cab drivers, emergency vechiles, I use a hands-free mobile in my car, I believe that the police feel that doing anything other than driving is unacceptable although i don't think they can prosecute yet,

steve50

Dont know but i used used to use a cb radio one many years ago and often found going round roundabouts tricky sometimes having to drop the mic to carry out a manouver
so i would say they are all dangerous to driving now that we can have hands free for almost anything
I am amazed we still let people Smoke whilst driving as often smokers have only one hand on the wheel and have a means of igniting a fire in an acident within the vehicle very dangerous indeed

semisatanic1

London bus drivers use two way radios all the time via a peddle button on the floor!
As far as i know hands free phones correctly fitted are permitted too!

cartmanswork

couple of years ago a bloke got pulled over for eating a mars bar it was all over the news smoking in cars will be banned next lol

exploding_pants

I can now view Internet pages on a mobile, after reading this question I thought it would be prudent to keep my eyes on the road and turn the phone off, However in doing so I dropped my electric shaver in my cornflakes which splashed milk all over the crossword i was in the middle of completeting!

Lisa P

Yeah you can my partners a taxi driver he uses a radio and has to press the receiver, he has to press the meter to start the fair and hes mobile is hands free.

But what made me cringe the other day was a woman chatting on her phone and a sandwich in the other hand!!

Neil M

I believe that the road traffic laws allow drivers to use a hands free mobile phone. I would imagine that the laws allow drivers to use 2-way radio equipment if it did not involve holding on to it while diving. Of course these laws are far too restrictive to the vast majority of sensible individuals, none of whom cause accidents whatever they are doing with their mobile phones or radio equipment.

Poppypunto

Can be prosecuted for using a hands free device if found to not be in proper control of your vehicle & No to using a hand-held mobile phone.The laws have just changed.

chrisbowe82

Still think it distracts attention from driving. I hate people I can see having a conversation in front driving at 20 mph in both lanes and keep looking at their passenger as they talk/argue

danny boy

why are you asking these questions when you work for the road saftey group ask something that is informative next time get a life

ginja_ninja1978

I would say yes. I may even argue that hands free encourages you to take your eyes off the road - why not use your phone properly?

While I don't know the statistics (would be interested to though if anyone does) I would imagine that use of mobile phones, whether hands-free or not, is actually not a causing factor in the majority of accidents.

Surely if a person is not capable of talking and driving at the same time they shouldn't be driving! If you do need full attention (such as late at night / not sure where you're going) then common sense dictates stay off the phone!

Just my tuppence worth!

Onestep downfrom God

Yes.
Radio equipment (Amateur or CB) is not included in the mobile phone legislation.
As long as you're in control of the vehicle you're safe.

musonic

Yes of course, and quite rightly.

If it's good enough for airline and RAF fighter pilots, Police Helicopter pilots, Air Ambulances, the Traffic Police (in spite of their grim accident record), the AA, the RAC, CID, Taxis, Bus Drivers, Council Vans, Racing Drivers, Rally Drivers, Ambulances, Fire Service, Ship's Captains, Crane Operators, Tug Pilots, River Police, Harbour Masters, Dock Marshalls etc etc etc.

As for the pointless legislation that communications may play a part in the cause of an accident; short of lie-detector tests or clairvoyance, the prosecution would have an interesting time trying to prove it, and as usual, it would be a gravy-train for the legal-profession and serve no point whatsoever.

It's a classic example of busy-body campaigners deluding themselves into thinking that they can make a vital contribution to road-safety.

I'll take these people seriously when they call for annual eye-sight tests and random roadside breath-tests for ALL drivers, because poor vision and drunk/drug driving are the biggest killers on the roads to-day.

To those who are unable to talk and drive perfectly at the same time, I would suggest they catch a bus or train, or take up knitting as a pastime, because they are a danger to themselves and everyone else on the roads.

den invent

The laws says you can so long as you make no attempt to handle the phone and the system is of the required type fit for the purpose

Mick

A lot of taxis have two way radios , but you never hear of any taxis drivers taken to court .

gwoods1210

what about all the women you see putting on make up surely there more dnagerous than people using a phone,

billybus

we have already answered this question in great detail,how much longer is this ,pick and choose what you want to read campaign, going on for ,cos it's political and not real conversation.

champer

I presume your question is rhetorical - if not, go and look up the legislation.

So far you've asked 5 questions with the same theme - go away. This site is not for canvassing.

MANCHESTER UK

Yes. There is a dispensation for emergency vehicles and also for Amateur Radio operators. However, because of the inherent nature of distraction, anyone using a mode of communication whilst driving a motor vehicle could be committing an offence if a Police Officer has the perception that this was impairing the driver's ability to control his vehicle.
The definitive Act & Section:
The Road Vehicles (Construction & Use) (Amendment) (No.4) Regulations 2003 Statutory Instrument 2003 NO 2695.
This can be viewed at: www.legislation.hmso.gov.uk/si/si2003/20â€¦
This is the Wording:
The use of two way radio equipment (unless the device can also be used as a phone) when driving is not included in the new offece. It must be remembered that there is still a risk of distraction and prosecution under other laws should an accident occur.

If stopped by the Police for operating mobile Amateur Radio, this Statutory Instrument should be quoted but look at the website for all exemptions under this law.
Mobile phones being held in hand or on shoulder will and should be prosecuted.

ElectronProbabilityCloud

A lot of bikers use 2 way intercom thingies. All the bike training schools use them. They use them on the UK bike test. I've used one, they don't seem to be distracting at all.

Mark B

Go google the answer you irritating idiot.

Mobile phones should be used at the same time as the cb mic while gear changing and steering with your knee's.

This is critically important while driving a taxi.

Retire gracefully, you were boring when on tv and have become even more so with age!

noodle_chow

In England you are allowed to have a hands free kit for your phone but you can get done for drinking out of a water bottle.

Whilst I was in Denver last week, I saw that a young boy was trying to stop people smoking in cars due to the amount of second hand smoke kids take in - that sounds good to me.

Bandit600

You should know, you work for the road safety group.

uncle fester

Why do you keep asking these rhetorical questions?

Is there a point to this that I am missing?

How is this making the roads safer?

Pat R

You can use hands free mobiles in the UK.

â™¥gigiâ™¥

i would say yes as long as it is entirely hands free once you are connected up

it would be breaking the law as soon as you had to use yours hands to operate it whilst driving

and i believe it is legal in the UK to use hands free

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