Date: Sat, 23 Jun 2001 20:49:38 +0100 From: Johannes H Andersen <johsnopsamsafish.com> Subject: Re: Suggestions for a Cup Holder Requested
"H." wrote: > > Chaps, following up on your question, in the UK we have TWO (count > 'em!) sets of driving regulations - the Law, and The Highway Code. The > latter is not mandatory, but is generally recognised as "the proper > way to drive". Its the sort of thing lawyers bring up in court to make > a point... > > The latest version of the Highway Code thus states that you should not > use a mobile phone whilst driving "unless you are using an approved > hands-free system", but that doesnt mean that it is or isnt legal... > > Additionally, it is the Highway Code that recommends that a druiver > has 2 hands on the wheel at all times - recommended, but not law! > > Confused? You will be! > You bet, absolutely confused. The Highway Code is in essence the traffic "law" as far as I know it, where else do I go and find out what the traffic laws are? Of course you have a point that a Code is not necessarily a law. There are such things as Code of Practice commonly deployed in business affairs. But the police can't just book you for violating a Code of Practice. At most this would lead to a fatherly chat. There has been a story in the news where a lady was booked because she had a sip from a soft drink while her car was stationary while waiting at the traffic light. A jobsworth successfully booked her for not having both hands on the steering wheel. The story was also discussed at length in the newsgroup: uk.transport. > Recent changes to our laws mean that you can be pulled over an given a > caution for HOLDING a mobile phone, but it is not a punishable ofence. > However, if you are seen to be driving poorly, you can be arrested for > either negligent driving, or driving without due care an attention - > and in arresting you for this, the police are at liberty to > specifically state mobile phone usage, holding a drink/sandwich etc > etc. > Unfortunately, there is often a subjective element in judging what is "Driving Poorly". OK I can mention many specific traffic offenses - but just Driving Poorly with nothing specific to put your fingers on? Where does it take us? I was once stopped for swerving around a pile of gravel on the road. I argued with the young police-something that there was no case here and that they were being silly. It must have had an effect since they suddenly lost interest in me. > Chances are a law will be passed in the next year or so to outlaw > holding a moblie phone completely - mobile companies seem to have > cottoned on to this, as for the past year the freebies with mobiles > seem to have almost exclusively been Hands-Free kits, thus suggesting > a trend in that direction. > Then at least we will know were we stand. > As for smoking... well I haven't been pulled yet ;-) and Im not aware > of any laws regarding that - though once again, if I drove badly, the > police could quite legally claim it was the fact that I only had 1 and > a half hands on the wheel. > Disgusting habit anyway. ;-((==~~~~ [...] Johannes
