Blue Tooth

T

trojan

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I dont undestand all these modern technogies but a friend has blue tooth in their car which enables them speak on their mobile handsfree. Is there any legal issues with this.
 
dub_nerd said:
Given the number of people I see doing hands-on usage, I'd say Bluetooth is to be highly recommended! :mad:
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While the law allows hands free usage in reality it is just as dangerous as holding the phone in your hand. It is the act of having a conversation with someone who is not in the car which is dangerous. Holding the phone is not the problem, just as holding an apple or picking your nose while driving isn't particularly dangerous.
 
I have it (handsfree systems) in my car. I don't use it much. I might occasionally answer a call using the handsfree and don't find it particularly distracting (assuming a kind of routine call), but I do find making a call whilst driving near impossible unless I stop/pull-over, so I simply avoid doing it. It can be handy to make calls whilst parked up, as you simply don't have the bother of a handset.

In a scary but kinda funny incident, (if it weren't so stupid),I was cycling home a few yrs back, when I spotted this simply enormous HGV was taking a turn on the Clontarf road- with the driver holding the phone between his shoulder and ear whilst turning the wheel. Nuts.
 
Of course it's less dangerous than holding a phone and having a conversation.
Holding a phone + steering the car + changing a gear = 3 hands.

It's not as safe as concentrating 100% on driving the car but like the guys above say, it's not illegal.
http://www.rsa.ie/Documents/Campaigns/Mobile Phone/RSA_Mobile_DL.pdf
If you're using it for calls I'd recommend a car that has the buttons in the steering wheel. I can answer a call without taking my eyes off the road or taking my hands off the wheel. My car also has voice dialing but it's fiddly and I don't bother making calls while driving.
If you have to hold the phone to make a call while driving then you're breaking the law.

However what I mainly use mine for is listening to the music on my phone or listening to podcasts. I seem to have reached an age where Irish radio just irritates me.
 
qwerty5 said:
Of course it's less dangerous than holding a phone and having a conversation.
Holding a phone + steering the car + changing a gear = 3 hands.
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Okay
qwerty5 said:
If you're using it for calls I'd recommend a car that has the buttons in the steering wheel.
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Yep, that's what I have.

Is using your phone hands free when driving while eating an apple against the law?
If not then why not?
Do the same rules apply to automatic cars?

The thing that makes it dangerous is having a conversation with someone who is not in the car with you. Whether you are holding the phone or not is of little consequence.
My point is that using a mobile phone while driving should be against the law, which is the case in Japan.
 
I can tell mine what to do. "Answer", "Reject", "Call Frank" or even "Answer Phone 1" (or 2 or 3). This is in a Toyota without using Siri or any of her pals, Alexa, etc.

I saw a movie recently where a young American stuck his phone to the side of his head using his furry hat, an innovation new to me.
 
When visiting Turkey a few yrs ago, and more recently in Morocco, Muslim women were using the veil to hold the phone in place. Not an upside of veil-wearing I would have thought of. :)
 
dub_nerd said:
Given the number of people I see doing hands-on usage, I'd say Bluetooth is to be highly recommended! :mad:
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Compelling all car manufacturers to install Bluetooth as standard might help here, but bad habits also need to be stamped out to help improve safety for road users.
 
MrEarl said:
Compelling all car manufacturers to install Bluetooth as standard might help here, but bad habits also need to be stamped out to help improve safety for road users.
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You'd be hard pressed to find a new car without Bluetooth already installed, bar the very most basic vehicles.
At least that's my personal experience from recently looking at new and used cars from 131 registration onwards.
 
Purple said:
A veiled threat to other road users?
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Hahaha. :) Actually Purple, they use them on the street as well. I saw a few women pushing buggies or shopping trolleys with the phone inserted into the side of the veil, leaving them with two free hands. Clever move indeed...:) No pullin the wool over....ahem...
 
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