THOUSANDS of drivers are caught each year by eagle-eyed cops after using their mobile phones at the wheel, with distracted drivers causing hundreds of fatal accidents on Britain's roads. Despite several high-profile campaigns and the government hiking up the fine if you are caught, some motorists persist in texting and calling while driving - but actually even touching your phone while driving is against the law, whether to check a message or use GPS. Can you use a mobile phone while driving? It has been illegal to touch a mobile phone - even with a hands free set - while driving since 2003. This includes using a mobile to follow a map, read a text or check social media. The law applies even if you are stopped at traffic lights or queuing in traffic as your engine is still running. You can only use a handheld phone if you are safely parked or need to call 999 or 112 in an emergency and it is unsafe or impractical to stop. Can you use hands-free? You can use … [Read more...] about Is driving using your mobile phone illegal in the UK, how much is the fine and do you get points on your licence?
Pay you as go mobile phones
Is it illegal to use your mobile phone as a sat-nav? Make sure you don’t break the law
TOUGHER laws on using mobile phones behind the wheel came into force last year, with offenders facing fines of £200 and six points on their licence. But what are the rules surrounding using hand-held devices as sat-navs? Can you use your mobile phone as a sat-nav? For new drivers who have had a licence for less than two years, the penalty under the harsh law is a driving ban. So texting, answering calls and flicking through the playlist on your smartphone is a complete no no. But a lot of people are confused as to whether they can use the map apps on their phones as sat-navs in the car. The answer is yes, you can, as long as you follow some simple rules. What is the legal way to use a sat-nav system on your phone? Invest in a holder or cradle, so that you are not handling the phone when you drive and make sure you have put your destination in before you set off. A spokesman for the AA said: “"It should be programmed with the route before you set off. "If you need to … [Read more...] about Is it illegal to use your mobile phone as a sat-nav? Make sure you don’t break the law
Man sues Nokia for up to £1m claiming using mobile phone caused his brain tumour
A salesman who suffered a brain tumour is suing Nokia for “significant” compensation which could hit £1million – in a case that could cost mobile phone firms a fortune. Father-of-six Neil Whitfield, 60, claims heavy mobile phone use in the late 1990s caused a deadly growth. His job meant using a phone for long spells – and in the days before it was illegal he had the gadget pressed to his ear while driving. Neil developed an acoustic neuroma tumour on a nerve between his inner ear and brain. He was left deaf in one ear after surgery in 2001 to remove a growth the size of a golf ball. He also suffers with balance problems. Neil said: “I have no doubt my tumour was caused by mobile phones. “I spent almost five years glued to my phone hours at a time until I was diagnosed. I could feel the heat coming off it. “I know this is going to be a real David and Goliath battle. It might take a while before it’s settled but I won’t … [Read more...] about Man sues Nokia for up to £1m claiming using mobile phone caused his brain tumour
Is it illegal or dangerous to use a mobile phone at a petrol station – even to pay for fuel?
NEW mobile apps that let you pay for fuel without having to leave your car are being rolled out. But just how safe is it to use your phone at a petrol station - especially given all the warning posters plastered on pumps? BP's BPme App launched this week to join Shell's Fill Up & Go - allowing drivers to pay for fuel at the push of a button without having to queue up inside. Motorists simply need to pull up to a pump and log in to the app, then confirm the pump number and their payment method - and their device's location services will pinpoint which petrol station they are at. Then they just refuel as normal, and will receive a conformation of the complete transaction once they return to their car. But the launch has raised questions about whether we should really be using our phones so close to flammable fuel. We've all seen the warning signs plastered across the pumps and heard the myths about phones causing ignition or explosion of fuel - but is it actually a realistic threat? … [Read more...] about Is it illegal or dangerous to use a mobile phone at a petrol station – even to pay for fuel?
Thirty injured in explosion at Jewish celebration in London as mobile phone sparks fireball
UP to 30 people have been injured in an explosion during a Jewish celebration - sparked by mobile phones being thrown to the flames. Hundreds gathered in Stamford Hill, London for Lag BaOmer - an annual event that incorporates bonfires. Dramatic footage shows a fire about to be lit, as revellers sing in the background just metres away. Suddenly there is a massive explosion as flames erupt over the entire crowd. London Ambulance Service and the Jewish volunteer ambulance service Hatzola attended at around 9pm. Both said they treated "multiple patients" for burns. Around ten people are believed to have been hurt by the flames, with a further 20 people injured in the scramble to get away, according to Jewish news website Yeshiva World. The condition of the patients was not immediately clear last night. Several witnesses claim the explosion came after mobile phones were thrown into the fire, but these reports are unconfirmed. Some even said the rabbe - a leader of the Chassidic Jewish … [Read more...] about Thirty injured in explosion at Jewish celebration in London as mobile phone sparks fireball