Do you remove your Dashcam in sunny weather

[Buckman]

But your quotes says “ as long as you don’t hold them at any time”. Doesn’t exclude touching a fixed or mounted screen. Not a good idea when driving but not illegal.

That was quoted from the govet website as per your link. To touch them to need to use your hands unless you have a long nose!

 

[otherclive]

But your quotes says “ as long as you don’t hold them at any time”. Doesn’t exclude touching a fixed or mounted screen. Not a good idea when driving but not illegal.

I know where it came from. But they come under “hands free” heading as long as you don’t hold”do not hold them”

 

[Buckman]

I know where it came from. But they come under “hands free” heading as long as you don’t hold”do not hold them”

Not sure what you do not understand about "hands free"? If you feel a need to argue about it, why not contact the authorities? However you are welcome to argue the toss with a police officer who has stopped you for fiddling with the phone or Satnav. Anyway only a fool would be wanting to touch a Satnav, phone etc while driving so it should not effect any of us on the forum.

 

[otherclive]

Not sure what you do not understand about "hands free"? If you feel a need to argue about it, why not contact the authorities? However you are welcome to argue the toss with a police officer who has stopped you for fiddling with the phone or Satnav. Anyway only a fool would be wanting to touch a Satnav, phone etc while driving so it should not effect any of us on the forum.

Perhaps this excellent article from West Yorkshire Poliice might clarify the status between holding a device which is illegal or hands free which is not illegal. I am not arguing just stating the facts.

What is the law in relation to using a mobile phone or other hand-held device whilst driving? | West Yorkshire Police

www.westyorkshire.police.uk

 

[Dustydog]

There is an ambiguity in the Gov site imo.
“Hands free” “ don’t Hold” etc gets us into syntaxial semantics on the English Language.

Sam asked about using mobile phones or other hand held devices whilst driving.

See my#45. It really is weird it is legal to,use a massive tv screen oem 😉

So the mobile hand held phone or hand held device is illegal but touching and fiddling with the big fixed screen is ok🙀.
If it was illegal no one would drive a Tesla etc 😜

​

 

[Buckman]

Perhaps this excellent article from West Yorkshire Poliice might clarify the status between holding a device which is illegal or hands free which is not illegal. I am not arguing just stating the facts.

What is the law in relation to using a mobile phone or other hand-held device whilst driving? | West Yorkshire Police

www.westyorkshire.police.uk

I was not aware that Yorkshire police passed legislationon using mobile phones? Obviously every force will interpret the law to suit their agenda, but it your choice. However the issue here is using Satnavs and not mobile phones.

It would be interesting if a link to the actual legislation was posted for all to read and then to decide on a course of action.

 

[otherclive]

You are quite correct that the police don’t pass legislation, but they are required to enforce it. So I’d be surprised if there was much variation of interpretation between police forces, they do have working groups to discuss and decide their approach to legislatory changes.

The thread is about dashcam, and you introduced smart phones in your post at #42, and whether it’s agreed or not hands free devices aren’t illegal. But in certain circumstances using one could still lead to falling foul of the law. A web search should enable you to find the source legislation.


“In 2022, the Government introduced a Statutory Instrument (SI) amending the Road Vehicles Regulations 1986. This SI effectively introduces a zero-tolerance policy where mobile phones are concerned which means that even the act of simply holding a device will trigger an offence being committed”

The Road Vehicles (Construction and Use) (Amendment) (No. 2) Regulations 2022

Regulation 110 of the Road Vehicles (Construction and Use) Regulations 1986 (S.I. 1986/1078), (“the 1986 Regulations”) prohibit the use, while driving a motor vehicle of hand-held mobile telephones or other interactive communication devices, when performing an interactive communication function.

www.legislation.gov.uk

https://www.legislation.gov.uk/uksi/2022/81/pdfs/uksiem_20220081_en.pdf

 

[Sam Vimes]

My own interpretation of the government link is that 'touching is not holding' and hence it's ok to use a device that doesn't require you to have it in your hand.

None the less fiddling with any touch screen can be distracting.

 

[Jcloughie]

I think the legislation is clear and Sam’s interpretation clarifies it nicely.

I tend to think there is a problem with the interpretation of ‘while driving’. There are examples of people being fined for using a mobile phone stationary with the engine off. Because, though they are not driving at that time, they are deemed to be in charge of the vehicle.

John

 

[RogerL]

There is an ambiguity in the Gov site imo.
“Hands free” “ don’t Hold” etc gets us into syntaxial semantics on the English Language.

Sam asked about using mobile phones or other hand held devices whilst driving.

See my#45. It really is weird it is legal to,use a massive tv screen oem 😉

So the mobile hand held phone or hand held device is illegal but touching and fiddling with the big fixed screen is ok🙀.
If it was illegal no one would drive a Tesla etc 😜

​

Equally, some sat nav systems for smart phones are designed for interaction on the move - Waze invites the driver to confirm whether obstacles/police/cameras are still there by touching the screen

 

[otherclive]

I think the legislation is clear and Sam’s interpretation clarifies it nicely.

I tend to think there is a problem with the interpretation of ‘while driving’. There are examples of people being fined for using a mobile phone stationary with the engine off. Because, though they are not driving at that time, they are deemed to be in charge of the vehicle.

John

That’s pretty harsh as advice is to pull over if you need to use a hand held device. Wonder if they were on the Highway or in a lay by.

 

[Dustydog]

I read that Euro NCAP will introduce new testing protocols in 2026 that will penalise car’s with everything controlled through a touchscreen
Does this mean English Law will change🤔

 

[otherclive]

I read that Euro NCAP will introduce new testing protocols in 2026 that will penalise car’s with everything controlled through a touchscreen
Does this mean English Law will change🤔

Quite likely as we tend to follow suit on safety and emissions. But unlikely to be retrospective.

 

[otherclive]

I think the legislation is clear and Sam’s interpretation clarifies it nicely.

I tend to think there is a problem with the interpretation of ‘while driving’. There are examples of people being fined for using a mobile phone stationary with the engine off. Because, though they are not driving at that time, they are deemed to be in charge of the vehicle.

John

Wiltshire police website says it’s okay if safely parked with engine off.

 

[Sam Vimes]

One would assume that the car designers would ensure compliance with any specific legislation in the relevant markets.

If you think about it, we've been pushing buttons on radios to tune them or select a station of music track; turning knobs to adjust heating or cooling for a long while. These though IMO are less distracting than a touch screen on a display. Also less likely to pust the wrong thing

 

[Dustydog]

Here’s a list of Tesla Screen Functions requiring a finger

Amazing🙉

 

[otherclive]

Here’s a list of Tesla Screen Functions requiring a finger

Amazing🙉

My grandson's model Y had a feature where it would make fart nosies. Cannot see where that is in the list!! The novelty wore off very quickly though.

 

[Dustydog]

My grandson's model Y had a feature where it would make fart nosies. Cannot see where that is in the list!! The novelty wore off very quickly though.

 

[Sam Vimes]

Fred Drift....

Anyway, today I tried a recording at 4k@30fps, with my smartphone. Number plates about 4/5 car lengths ahead still unreadable. So no difference from the 2k@30fps. I suspect that the compression algorithms are set high and detail is just lost.

One day I'll try my dSLR which is much more controlable than a smartphone or Dashcam

 

[Dustydog]

Jokes aside when did you last clean the lens of your phone😜

 

[Sam Vimes]

Regularly - I just run my finger over it .

But in reality as a photographerI keep an eye on the condition of the lenses.

 

[Beachball]

Seeing my phone fairly new i just give it wipe i like keep the camera in first class condition

 

[Jcloughie]

I think image stabilisation would help a lot. I like my Nextbase 522, but it is the 622 that has it.

John

 

[JTQ]

I think image stabilisation would help a lot. I like my Nextbase 522, but it is the 622 that has it.

John

An interesting point, not one I have considered, but well worthy of debate.

My own immediate reaction is the camera is itself physically well mounted in a very well motion /vibration damped , thus stabilised location. Afterall we need it to be for our cars to offer any comfort. [ one of mine on my Brompton cycle handlebars could well benefit]
Plus the individual images are captured in milli seconds, so the image in most shots can't move across the frame very much in the time interval.
It's not like its being held, so I would think any digital stabilisation in our use has to yield minimum benefits.

 

[Dustydog]

An interesting point, not one I have considered, but well worthy of debate.

My own immediate reaction is the camera is itself physically well mounted in a very well motion /vibration damped , thus stabilised location. Afterall we need it to be for our cars to offer any comfort. [ one of mine on my Brompton cycle handlebars could well benefit]
Plus the individual images are captured in milli seconds, so the image in most shots can't move across the frame very much in the time interval.
It's not like its being held, so I would think any digital stabilisation in our use has to yield minimum benefits.

Those who have seen the Jackal series will recall his use of a gyroscopic stabilised rifle. I wonder if similar tech can be used in cameras🤔. Maybe it is?