Tougher Laws For Drivers in 2017
TOUGHER laws on using mobile phones behind the wheel came into force this week with offenders facing fines of £200 and six points on their licence.For new drivers, who have had a licence for less than two years, the penalty under the harsh new law is a driving ban.
Programming the map while driving is definitely a NO NO!
So obviously texting, answering calls and flicking through the playlist on your smartphone is a complete no no.
But a lot of people are confused as to whether they can use the map apps on their phones as sat navs in the car.
The answer is yes, you can, as long as you follow some simple rules.
Firstly, invest in a holder or cradle so that you are not handling the phone when you drive.
Secondly, make sure you have put your destination in before you set off.
A spokesman for the AA said: “”It should be programmed with the route before you set off.
“If it pops up with a message which requires just one press of a button, such as ‘A faster route has been found. Accept/ Decline’ you should be OK to do this, as you would with an in-built sat-nav.
“But if you need to re-programme the route then pull over and stop somewhere safe to do it.”
A holder that sticks on the windscreen could also count against you legally
The problems don’t stop there though – as the position of your phone could also land you in trouble.
Technically, phone holders and sat nav holders that fix onto your windscreen are a breach of the Highway Code.
According to the code, “windscreens and windows MUST be kept clean and free from obstructions to vision”.
So, if you were caught with the phone in a holder that suckers onto your windscreen and officials decided it was obstructing your vision while you were driving, it could count against you in a court case.
Holders that slip into the air vent are available.
Yesterday, dozens of drivers were arrested in a crackdown as the harsh new laws came into play.
Motorists were also warned the penalty points could have an expensive effect on their car insurance.
Holders that fix into air vents may prove the safest option