OT
The scenario...the car in front of me had either a large smartphone or tablet mounted in a holder attached to the center of the dashboard.The device was on and playing a video. The screen was even tilted in the direction of the driver....
Is this legal... I know it can't be, but does the highway code make references to types of video devices, what they can show/play and their positioning inside a moving vehicle.
I am glad I was behind them, they were an accident waiting to happen.
It's illegal, but I don't know off hand which bit of legialation prohibits it. I think it's the Construction and Use Regualtions (?) rather than the Highway Code.
On coaches fitted with video screens, the screen has to be behind the driver where it cannot distract him.
In article , alo writes
Driving without due care and attention would apply (probably replaced by a different name these days), definitely an offence.
Not relevant in this case but built in dashboard screens are required not to operate in video mode whilst the engine is running but can display route finding info.
uk.legal might have been a better choice of group.
Illegal. Full answer here;
Copied and pasted;
You're looking for s.109 of The Road Vehicles (Construction and Use) Regula tions 1986:
Television sets
109.?(1) No person shall drive, or cause or permit to be driven, a motor vehicle on a road, if the driver is in such a position as to be able to see , whether directly or by reflection, a television receiving apparatus or ot her cinematographic apparatus used to display anything other than informati on?(a) about the state of the vehicle or its equipment; (b) about the location of the vehicle and the road on which it is located; (c) to assist the driver to see the road adjacent to the vehicle; or (d) to assist the driver to reach his destination. (2) In this regulation ?television receiving apparatus? means any catho de ray tube carried on a vehicle and on which there can be displayed an ima ge derived from a television broadcast, a recording or a camera or computer .
Full regulations:
Yes .. in need of a bit of updating re CRT's!..
There's your get-out, right there.
means any
I thought that, but it goes on: "...or other cinematographic apparatus used to display anything other than information."
If the driver can see the video when in motion, then no it's not legal, but there *are* some screens which can show e.g. satnav to the driver, while simultaneously showing a video to the front-seat passenger.
There was some plonker walking down the stairs at the railway station yesterday watching something on a iPad. I was poised ready to step over his twitching corpse, but he made it to the bottom of the stairs OK.
No wonder the Police want to ban drivers wearing Google Glass.
So you missed your opportunity, then?
There were witnesses.
No as far as I'm aware the only devices allowed must bbe advising the driver of information pertaining to the act of driving, so I suppose satnavs etc, but I heard a rumour that they could be banning any map type displays that were visible while actually moving if they could figure out how to do that. its obvious that the human brain can only concentrate on five things and if four of them are out the window one is the dashboard, then another is one too many. Still worry not driverless cars are on the way soon. Brian
But its not a cathode ray tube any more is it?
Brian
With all the driving aid options chosen, the latest Mercedes S Class could be autonomous. However, to avoid problems with litigation if there were an accident, the driving aids only work so long as the driver keeps a hand on the steering wheel. Otherwise, it gives a warning after 10 seconds and disconnects the driving aids after 15 seconds.
Colin Bignell
That is the text as originally published. Amendment regulations are issued almost every year, as technology advances.
Colin Bignell
No, but it still falls under the description of "other cinematographic apparatus" and is still illegal.
It has probably been amended at some point, but searching for Construction and Use (Amendment) Regulations on the government legislation web site comes up with a six page list, which is a bit much to wade through.
Colin Bignell
....
Looking at the list of amendment regulations on the legislation web site, that should read 'issued up to nine times in any one year'.
Colin Bignell
Could it have been a dash cam, which may be legal.
HomeOwnersHub website is not affiliated with any of the manufacturers or service providers discussed here. All logos and trade names are the property of their respective owners.