CAR enthusiasts are obsessed with nifty little gadgets that can make driving a dream come true and save you £1,000 in fines.
This “handy” device will help you keep your eyes on the road, eliminate distractions, and avoid costly fines and accidents.
Satellite navigation systems may be one of the best inventions of the technological age, making it much easier to avoid getting lost when driving on unfamiliar roads.
Popular transportation apps like Waze and Google Maps can also help drivers avoid traffic jams by providing real-time updates.
But while these apps are useful, they can also be disastrous if you’re not careful.
Motormatch experts have warned motorists that they could face a fine of up to £1,000 and six points on their license if they are caught using a mobile phone while driving.
Previous laws only prohibited hand-held phone calls and messaging (a practice known as “two-way communication”) while driving.
In 2022, these loopholes were closed and it became illegal to even touch your phone while piloting.
You are still allowed to make hands-free calls and use your mobile phone for satellite navigation as long as you do not enter a destination while driving.
That’s why automotive experts are urging drivers to mount their cell phones on the windshield for easy access.
Motor Match magazine says: “If you need your phone for navigation while driving, a hands-free windshield mount is the way to go, but this should not obstruct your view of the road or traffic ahead.”
Affordable and useful, the device can be easily found on websites such as Temu, retailing for just £1.27.
Reviews for the gadget have been rave, and 1,300 car phone holders have already been sold.
One person wrote: “It’s very rough and comfortable.”
Another reviewer added, “A nice gadget to have.”
Another said: “It’s so cheap and the quality is good.”
If you use a windshield holder, please make sure it is installed in the correct position.
It’s not technically illegal to mount a sat nav in the middle of your windscreen, but if it blocks your view you could be fined £100 on the spot.
Mobile phone holders and car navigation holders that are fixed to the windshield may be in violation of regulations.
The regulations state that “windshields and windows must be kept clean and free of obstructions to visibility.”
Cell phone holders attached to windshields could be deemed in court to obstruct a driver’s view.
In addition, the Road Traffic Act stipulates that “any person who is in a position that prevents them from having a complete view of the road and the traffic ahead must not drive a motor vehicle on a road.”
Road safety officer Neil Worth said the safest place to place the holder was “in the bottom right-hand corner of the windscreen”.
Drivers who use a satnav or mobile phone that is not mounted on the dashboard or windscreen could be fined £200 and handed up to six penalty points.
UK Laws Regarding Using a Phone While Driving
Using your mobile phone while driving puts yourself and other road users at risk and could get you in serious trouble.
Since 2003, it has been illegal to talk or text on a cell phone while driving.
However, this only covered a small portion of the law, such as actually holding the phone to your ear while making a call.
From March 25, 2022, it will be illegal to possess a mobile phone while driving.
This will cover any touch or swipe on your phone screen.
This also applies if you are stopped in traffic or waiting at a traffic light.
- Can I use it hands-free while driving?
While driving or riding, you can use your hands-free phone, navigation, and two-way radio as long as you don’t press a button.
Touchscreen dashboards in cars are not exempt from the penalties either, with national automotive contracting director Keith Hawes also warning against their use.
Keith said: “Touchscreens are a common addition to modern vehicles, and the more complex they are, the more likely they are to be a distraction.
“If someone is found to not have proper control of their vehicle as a result of using a dashboard gadget or hands-free device, they could be prosecuted.”
However, if the police determine that you are distracted and not in control of your vehicle, you may be stopped and fined. This law also applies to people riding motorcycles.
Your hands-free device must be fully set up before you begin your ride.