Sat Nav on Your Mobile , Is it Legal ?

Discussion in 'Off-Topic Discussion' started by HarryS, Aug 26, 2017.

  1. HarryS

    HarryS Eternally Optimistic Gardener

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    As part of my neanderthal blokey up-bringing I always thought ... 1- Real men don't eat quiche and 2- Real men don't use sat-nav. I could look at a map and memorise a route in two minutes. But times have changed , following a complete M6 closure at Lancaster - my little mobile sat nav app ( Waze as used by Uber drivers ) guided me through the traffic hell hole of Lancaster and back onto the M6. The route used every backstreet and rat run known to man !
    But just heard that using Sat-Nav on a mobile ( in a holder) ,is classed as using a mobile while driving . Is this correct?
    PS , I like quiche as well :biggrin:
     
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    • pamsdish

      pamsdish Total Gardener

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      I use mine a lot, when travelling to West Mids, so many roadworks, and I always seem to lose my way in Stourbridge, as it`s in a holder, or in my case on the passenger seat, it`s working hands free and that`s legal, so assume Sat Nav bit is too.
       
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      • Jiffy

        Jiffy The Match is on Fire

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      • Phil A

        Phil A Guest

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      • HarryS

        HarryS Eternally Optimistic Gardener

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        Well now I know ! If you don't touch it while driving , you should be OK . I wonder how many people know this who use their mobile as a sat-nav?
         
      • Fat Controller

        Fat Controller 'Cuddly' Scottish Admin! Staff Member

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        Technically, even although you are not touching it, the phone is in use - and ultimately, I think that this is the technicality that is being used to state that using your mobile phone as a sat-nav is illegal. I suspect that the thinking is to remove the temptation to touch the phone by saying that it is illegal to use it as a sat-nav.

        In truth, even an actual sat-nav unit that is fitted to your car is often too much of a distraction - despite having it, I very (very) rarely use it, and even then I end up arguing with it as it seems to want to send me illogical or unsuitable routes. Changes to the sat-nav are done by my front seat passenger at all times, and if I am on my own then I will stop and park up before attempting to change anything on it; the risks of attempting to do so on the move are far too great.
         
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        • Scrungee

          Scrungee Well known for it

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          Trying to view a small screen phone attached to the windscreen can be dangerous, a tablet with a larger screen is much safer:dbgrtmb:

          [​IMG]

          P.S. Finding a suitable windscreen mount might be difficult.
           
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          • Fat Controller

            Fat Controller 'Cuddly' Scottish Admin! Staff Member

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            Or maybe get a smaller one, and a prescription windscreen?

             
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            • Phil A

              Phil A Guest

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            • Jack Sparrow

              Jack Sparrow Total Gardener

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              Your sat nav talks to you. There is no need look at it.

              G.
               
            • Scrungee

              Scrungee Well known for it

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              When Mrs Scrungee holds my phone whilst using Google Navigation, I have to still keep an eye on it to make sense of why the voice directions are telling me to go over footbridges, drive along cyclepaths, or are sending us to the local rail station as she keeps inadvertantly changing the mode of transport.

              Another one that caused confusion was managing to turn off autorotate, holding the phone upside down and giving me verbal instructions that were the opposite to the voice instructions coming from my phone.
               
              Last edited: Aug 26, 2017
            • Jack Sparrow

              Jack Sparrow Total Gardener

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              When I drive, my wife looks after the phone. She then tells me when I've gone too far. That's really helpful. :doh:

              G.
               
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              • Jiffy

                Jiffy The Match is on Fire

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                Mine doesn't
                 
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                • pete

                  pete Growing a bit of this and a bit of that....

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                  I didn't even know you could use your phone as a satnav?;)
                  I take the odd picture but mostly just use it for communication.

                  I have a satnav, but the screen is too small for me to see without my reading glasses, if I wear my reading glasses I cant see where I'm driving:scratch:

                  Mostly pretty useless unless you want to end up in some narrow lane with nowhere to turn round.
                   
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                  • Jack Sparrow

                    Jack Sparrow Total Gardener

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                    My sat nav proper lives in my glove box. It's too much hassle to get it out and too time consuming if I need it whilst on the move. I decided I wanted to use it recently, as the phone sat nav is a waste of Internet data, only to discover it wasn't there. I vaguely recall removing it last time I had my car serviced. I only had it because my mum insisted on buying it for my birthday. I used to manage quiet nicely using a road atlas.

                    G.
                     
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