A great text & walk video

I drove through a red-light last year (cctv caught me as the light changed) I received a letter through my door within 5 days saying i could either dispute it in court, pay the £90 fine and have some point taken off my license or pay £90 to take a 2 hour course on driving safety and keep the points on my licence. I opted to pay for the course and keep my points. When I attended the course around 90% of the people there were all caught using their phones while driving. The laws have been changed this year, if you get caught using your phone you get the fine and the points with no option of taking a course the first time it happens.
 
  • Like
Reactions: billiebob
In the United States, most states have a law now where you can't be holding your phone and talking on it while driving (you can still use a Bluetooth headset, but can't actually be holding your phone).

However, some states (such as Washington) have now passed laws called "Distracte Driving" laws. That law in Washington looks like this:

Q. What will be banned?
A. Texting is already illegal, as is holding a cellphone at the ear. Drivers constantly flout those rules, or evade them by holding a phone between the legs, or just below the chin.

The new bill forbids handheld uses, including composing or reading any kind of message, picture or data. Photography while driving is illegal.

Drivers also cannot use handheld devices while at a stop sign or red-light signal.

Q. What is still legal?
A. Drivers may still use a smartphone mounted in a dashboard cradle, for instance to use a navigation app, but not to watch video. The new law permits “minimal use of a finger” to activate an app or device.

Built-in electronic systems, such as hands-free calling and maps, remain legal.

Calls to 911 or other emergency services are legal, as are urgent calls between transit employees and dispatchers.

Amateur radio equipment and citizens-band radio, remain legal.

Handheld devices may be used if the driver has pulled off the roadway or traffic lanes, where the vehicle “can safely remain stationary.”
 
Sounds similar to BCs law. It is illegal to touch an electronic device. PERIOD. Our courts ruled in the Crowns favor for an appeal "I was only plugging my phone in at a red light". $587.00, can you pay now? Guilty !! Even 911 calls are illegal here.

More people are killed by drivers using an electronic device than by drivers drunk. It is so simple. Our government wants to protect LIFE !!

A drunks judgement might be impaired. A driver holding a cell phone is in full control of his faculties.

032417-dui-motorcycle-stuck-in-jeep-f.jpg
 
Last edited:
  • Like
Reactions: Chris
Sounds similar to BCs law. It is illegal to touch an electronic device. PERIOD. Our courts ruled in the Crowns favor for an appeal "I was only plugging my phone in at a red light". $587.00, can you pay now? Guilty !! Even 911 calls are illegal here.

More people are killed by drivers using an electronic device than by drivers drunk. It is so simple. Our government wants to protect LIFE !!

A drunks judgement might be impaired. A driver holding a cell phone is in full control of his faculties.

View attachment 20362

The problem is (and it's too soon to tell), will people actually put down their phones? I guess only time will tell!
 
In BC they also get a Driver License review.... which can exponentially increase the Provincial Insurance Premium for 5 years AND result in a long license suspension. The heavy hand worked for impaired driving. I'm sure in the 5 year plan it will be effective here.

But it is possible to block a cell signal to the drivers seat. I expect legislation to equip cars with that blocker soon.
 
The problem is (and it's too soon to tell), will people actually put down their phones? I guess only time will tell!
We have had those laws already for over a decade and people are using their phones more than ever, updating followers on snap chat and Instagram seems to be more important to a lot of drivers.
 
We have had those laws already for over a decade and people are using their phones more than ever, updating followers on snap chat and Instagram seems to be more important to a lot of drivers.

I figured. I don't think a law like this with something as simple as a small fine, will have any impact on what is otherwise a modern generation of self-absorbed, smart phone obsessed assholes.