Mobile phone and an Apple

MarinoMark

While driving in slow moving traffic my mobile slid off the dash and I grabbed it, I had it in my hand, not on a call, when a guard stopped me. I still had 2 hands on the wheel. 2 penalty points !
I asked the guard could I eat an Apple while driving and he said Yes !!

quote...
The Road Traffic Act 2006 has created a new offence of holding a mobile phone while driving a vehicle in a public place. The law was introduced to eliminate the common practice of drivers using mobile phones while driving and thereby not concentrating fully on their driving. The offence is holding a mobile phone and does not require the driver to be making or receiving a call but merely holding the phone.

http://www.citizensinformation.ie/categories/travel-and-recreation/motoring-1/driving-offences/driving_offences

So just beware you lot, You cannot even have the phone in your hand, But you can eat an apple with One hand on the wheel !!!

muletide

Dry your eyes

MarinoMark

Not sad, But now aware !:D

rubadub

You can be done for eating an apple too. A lot of gardai are unaware of the laws they are supposed to enforce.

What I find odd is you can still legally hold a lit cigarette in a car, though you could be done for it in the same way as the apple, but it is not specifically illegal to hold a item on fire/ignited in a car, and a huge % are doing it.

Maybe get one of these bad boys

EDIT- apple did patent one!, maybe a hoax http://technabob.com/blog/wp-content/uploads/2007/01/apple_phone.gif

MarinoMark

I think they are making it up as they go along, TBH

Maybe get one of these bad boys

hahaha!!

flogen

MarinoMark wrote: »

While driving in slow moving traffic my mobile slid off the dash and I grabbed it, I had it in my hand, not on a call, when a guard stopped me. I still had 2 hands on the wheel. 2 penalty points !
I asked the guard could I eat an Apple while driving and he said Yes !!

Your story doesn't really make a lot of sense -

If it was slow-moving traffic what made the mobile fall off the dash all of a sudden?

Did the Garda just happen to stop you right after you caught it, or did you continue to hold onto it for a few minutes after catching it? If it's the latter, why did you continue to hold onto it for so long? Considering the fact that the traffic was slow-moving enough for you to catch it in the first place it would have been easy for you to put it back or thrown it on the chair beside you.

Anyway - the reason the law is as you quote is to ensure that it covers people who are texting whilst driving. It also means that it covers those morons who put their phone on loudspeaker and hold them at their chest so it's not quite as obvious to a passer-by that their making a phone call. Why they decide to make things as awkward as they can for themselves rather than invest in a cheap headset is beyond me.

Maybe that's what you should do - some of the kits even come with a cradle so you won't have to worry about catching your phone falling in slow-moving traffic anymore! What will those scientists think of next?

Basq

Anyone else think this was another thread on the iPhone based on the thread title?

Why capitalise 'apple'?!?!? TELL ME!!1!

Dave!

AFAIK mobile phones are banned because of the whole selective attention thing. Eating an apple doesn't require much concentration. Talking on your phone requires you to hold the phone, listen, and speak, all the while paying attention to everything on the road. Eating an apple just requires holding it, and sometimes taking a bite. Not that mentally demanding.

Basq

DaveMcG wrote: »

Eating an apple just requires holding it, and sometimes taking a bite. Not that mentally demanding.

Not for you maybe, Mr Brain Surgeon!

flogen

DaveMcG wrote: »

AFAIK mobile phones are banned because of the whole selective attention thing. Eating an apple doesn't require much concentration. Talking on your phone requires you to hold the phone, listen, and speak, all the while paying attention to everything on the road. Eating an apple just requires holding it, and sometimes taking a bite. Not that mentally demanding.

What's that video supposed to prove? I counted 20 passes and saw the woman walking into shot (although I didn't see the umbrella she was carrying). I'm not just saying that - I really did; although I was extremely confused for the first few seconds.

So have my long-held suspicions about me having superhuman powers been proven correct??

Ginny

This was well publicised when it was introduced, once you're touching the phone you can be done.
As for the eating you can be done for eating under the dangerous driving AFAIK.

Tobias Greeshman

rubadub wrote: »

You can be done for eating an apple too. A lot of gardai are unaware of the laws they are supposed to enforce.

Are you so sure of this?? I know in the North this is certainly true, well they'll at least stop you and give you a warning.

Steve

DaveMcG wrote: »

AFAIK mobile phones are banned because of the whole selective attention thing. Eating an apple doesn't require much concentration. Talking on your phone requires you to hold the phone, listen, and speak, all the while paying attention to everything on the road. Eating an apple just requires holding it, and sometimes taking a bite. Not that mentally demanding.

Won't be long before it's illegal to speak to passengers in the car if thats thay way they look at it.

FunkZ

Thanks, now I'll know when I start to drive.

Jimbo

I didn't know it was illegal to be holding your phone while driving.
It should only apply if the phone is up to your ear.
What are you supposed to do if you want to text someone??

Wertz

I was trying to eat a bag of crisps yesterday whilst driving...there should definitely be a law against that.

Flogen wrote:

. It also means that it covers those morons who put their phone on loudspeaker and hold them at their chest so it's not quite as obvious to a passer-by that their making a phone call.

See so many women doing this, at first I thought they were all talking into dictaphones or something...if anything it attracts more attention IMO, but I suppose it's easier to drop the phone if you see a cop. A BT set costs what, 30 quid?
As for people who text while they drive; idiots. Yes that includes you. If it's that important pull in and call/text, if not wait till you're not in control of a ton of metal filled with flammable liquid...

Ginny

Doesn't every phone come with earphones at this stage?
If they're too cheap to buy a handsfree kit they could at least use whats provided for them.

flogen

Wertz wrote: »

See so many women doing this, at first I thought they were all talking into dictaphones or something...if anything it attracts more attention IMO, but I suppose it's easier to drop the phone if you see a cop.

Yeah, they tend to be easily spotted because they end up sitting awkwardly whilst holding it.

I suppose half the plan is to be able to drop it out of view where needed.

Pheonix Ski

Well looks like you have just joined the rest of us in the penality point box!

I have 4 already and got them in one go! Was a very funny thing that happened tho so i cant say i was too angry about it!

AARRRGH

flogen wrote: »

Your story doesn't really make a lot of sense

I agree. This is the guy who got fired from his previous job for drink driving.

I'm seeing a pattern...

antodeco

Im confused. You were in slow moving traffic, the phone fell off the dashboard, you caught it while holding onto the wheel??? (retractable grabbing pen!s maybe??) and a garda just happened to be there...

Very odd