
Product information
- i-Carmunicator
- c-Carmunicator
In a regulation which came into force on 27 February 2007, it is a specific offence to use a hand-held phone, or similar device, when driving. Drivers caught using mobile phones will automatically have their licence endorsed with three penalty points and will receive a £60 fine – double the existing charge. Any cases that reach court could involve discretionary disqualification and a maximum fine of £1,000 - or £2,500 in the case of the driver of a bus, coach or goods vehicle.
The regulation says the use of a hand-held phone or similar hand-held device while driving is prohibited. A hand-held device is something that "is or must be held at some point during the course of making or receiving a call or performing any other interactive communication function".
Provided a phone can be operated without holding it, then hands-free equipment is not prohibited by the new regulation. This means the c-Carmunicator (provided the phone is secured in the car) provides the perfect solution to comply with the new regulations.
Pushing buttons on a phone while it is in a cradle or on the steering wheel or handlebars of a motorbike for example is not covered by the new offence, provided you don't hold the phone.
Hands-free phones can be distracting and, if appropriate, there is still a risk of prosecution for failing to have proper control of a vehicle under Regulation 104 of the Road Vehicles (Construction and Use) Regulations 1986 for using a hands-free phone when driving. If there is an incident, the use of any phone or similar device might justify charges of careless or dangerous driving.