Quick legal earphone question

pudzey101

is it legal to talk on the phone through earphones once your phones is in ur pocket ?

M5

Absolutely not. Has to be hard wired. You're seriously impinging on your hearing on one side by doing this.

Have spotted the odd tool with headphones on. Always the same brand of headphones interestingly enough.

pudzey101

ok so it would be ok to leave the phone on the passenger seat on loudspeaker right ?

M5

pudzey101 wrote: »

ok so it would be ok to leave the phone on the passenger seat on loudspeaker right ?

Not sure, that would be difficult to hear and likely distracting.

Get a Bluetooth hands free, you'd get something decent for 50 quid. You can even get a Bluetooth head unit for 50 quid at this stage. Much safer than either option above

Victor

pudzey101 wrote: »

is it legal to talk on the phone through earphones once your phones is in ur pocket ?

No. You can't be in contact with any part of the device, not the phone, not the headphones.

NickDunne

M5 wrote: »

Absolutely not. Has to be hard wired. You're seriously impinging on your hearing on one side by doing this.

Have spotted the odd tool with headphones on. Always the same brand of headphones interestingly enough.

x2

No point in doing it if you cant look cool and trendy at the time :rolleyes:

I've tried every method mentioned above, there really is no replacement for a good bluetooth system through the stereo.

hairyslug

A quick question about not being in contact with the phone.

If you have one of the cheap plug and play Bluetooth kits, where you have to answer your phone (and not the Bluetooth piece) is it illegal to touch your phone just to answer.

M5

hairyslug wrote: »

A quick question about not being in contact with the phone.

If you have one of the cheap plug and play Bluetooth kits, where you have to answer your phone (and not the Bluetooth piece) is it illegal to touch your phone just to answer.

Set your phone to auto answer

ironclaw

Victor wrote: »

No. You can't be in contact with any part of the device, not the phone, not the headphones.

Not sure you are correct there. Legislation means you can't support the phone with your body i.e. Cradle under cheek / shoulder or actually hold the phone. New legislation prohibits you from touching the phone at all, even if in a cradle. It does not prohibit the use of headphones (While for example Spain has an outright ban on headphone usage while driving)

To my knowledge, there is zero issue with having a phone connected to headphones and using the button on the headphones to answer. However, even if its legal, its a stupid idea. You're impairing your ability to hear which will impair your sense of surroundings and ability to react.

I've yet to meet anyone who has a job where talking on the phone while driving is remotely justified.

wandererz

I use a Motorola Roadster bluetooth sunvisor unit. When a call comes in it asks you to answer or ignore. You just speak either option.

Quality is decent and good reviews. Have used this for about 4 years now, even in a convertible.

Another benefit is that when travelling and renting cars, you can just take it with you.

http://www.amazon.co.uk/gp/aw/d/B007AQF0WK/ref=mp_s_a_1_1?qid=1453566880&sr=8-1&pi=SY200_QL40&keywords=Motorola+roadster&dpPl=1&dpID=51GtOoktvdL&ref=plSrch

wandererz

One should not use wired in-ear headphones as it impairs the ability to hear other things like horns or sirens etc. This includes using music only devices.

Using a Bluetooth device and receiving a call is akin to speaking to people in the vehicle with you.

With the voice answer and the "OK Google, call xyz" functionality there is no reason to touch the phone.

pudzey101

sound guys , looks like il invest in a bluetooth kit

Guy:Incognito

wandererz wrote: »

One cannot use wired in-ear headphones as it impairs the ability to hear other things like horns or sirens etc. This includes using music only devices.
.

Just as well car radios cant be turned up loud enough to impair the ability to hear other things like horns and sirens etc........

K.Flyer

^^^^^
It was the idiot playing very loud music in their car and not watching both directions that caused an accident because they couldn't hear the car horns.

For years I have been using a bluetooth ear piece, tap ear piece to answer / end calls and the phone either visible in the car or in my pocket when driving.
Pulled into many a checkpoint or alongside Garda in mid conversation, never an issue.

projectgtr

K.Flyer wrote: »

^^^^^
It was the idiot playing very loud music in their car and not watching both directions that caused an accident because they couldn't hear the car horns.

For years I have been using a bluetooth ear piece, tap ear piece to answer / end calls and the phone either visible in the car or in my pocket when driving.
Pulled into many a checkpoint or alongside Garda in mid conversation, never an issue.

ive gone through checkpoints using headphones before , one in. Again i dont need to touch my phone, headphones have an answer and end call function, does anyone know for 100% if this is now illegal?

bladespin

wandererz wrote:

One cannot use wired in-ear headphones as it impairs the ability to hear other things like horns or sirens etc. This includes using music only devices.

Not sure about this afik ear plugs are perfectly fine to use.

Guy:Incognito

Also, deaf people are allowed to drive.

Turtle-TM

The amount of lawyers on boards motors section is unbelievable! Telling people with absolute authority that something is illegal like "being in any sort of contact with your phone" that's the first I've ever heard of that

Op, I suggest you read the legislation on using your phone while driving, simple to find with Google. While it's not illegal to use earphones while driving it is a very bad idea. You will not hear horns, sirens etc and your spacious awareness will decrease. Get a Bluetooth radio or the like, or even a Bluetooth ear piece that fits one ear.

As for all the lawyers on here, maybe take my advice above and read the legislation also.

Skatedude

quick question. people say it's illegal to touch your phone while driving ,but every taxi driver i've seen use them for the taxi app? would that not be illegal as well?

M5

Guy:Incognito wrote: »

Also, deaf people are allowed to drive.

True, but they have to go through rigorous checks and be signed off by a doctor to do so. I wont even get into their (often) lifetime of adaptation to their disability. Many deaf people also use electronic devices to alert them to loud noises etc.

Guy:Incognito

Skatedude wrote: »

quick question. people say it's illegal to touch your phone while driving ,but every taxi driver i've seen use them for the taxi app? would that not be illegal as well?

Thats quite far down the list of taxi driver related annoyances to be fair.:)

Turtle-TM

Skatedude wrote: »

quick question. people say it's illegal to touch your phone while driving ,but every taxi driver i've seen use them for the taxi app? would that not be illegal as well?

It's not illegal to touch your phone while driving. As long as you are not holding the phone, ie it's in a cradle you are allowed touch your phone for any reason apart from reading,sending an sms message,mms message or email.

Hence why the new legislation was to be in late last year to clean up the mess of the 2014 changes. Gardai have said it is unusable in its current form, as it is impossible for them to prove what you are doing on your phone if they see you typing on it. They could try for driving with out due care and attention, but they'd have to see you driving dangerously or out of lane etc

Truckermal

Guy:Incognito wrote: »

Thats quite far down the list of taxi driver related annoyances to be fair.:)

What about touching themselves???:pac: