Using phone as a GPS.... legal?

[Barnoe]

Although this is bike related it also relates to my car too.

I have a Tomtom Rider v5 and whilst its brilliant on the bike I also use it in the car with a separate mount it came with (built in speaker).

Great as it is, it runs blindly into traffic jams, as it doesn't have "live traffic" on it and it cant be added either :/
(Obviously traffic jams aint a problem as much on the bike as I can filter)

So I have been using my smartphone and google maps, however it occurred to me that technically I'm using my phone while driving?

So on a mount either on a bike or mounted on the dash of a car, if PC Plod saw me poking the screen while sat at a red light, is he likely to do me for using a phone whilst driving/riding?

Next question is, if this is a grey area what device should I buy to avoid jams in the car without the phone?
Tomtom, Garmin or some other decent GPS device
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You know you are old when you're told to slow down by your doctor and not the police.

[G]

Provided your phone is mounted, you're allowed to poke it as much you want as far as I know - providing it doesn't cause an issue with your driving, that is!
So should be fine at a red light.
Same as you might an actual sat nav (which often have radio communication devices that would bring it into the same legislation I believe - ie bluetooth etc), or a car stereo etc.

Hold it in your hand while stopped and you'll be killing many, many kittens however!

[el_oso]

I've been using the 'OK google' functionality on mine when it's been sitting in the phone holder, works pretty well I've found. It's connected to the car via Bluetooth so I get the directions spoken by google anyway.
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Duke 390
Previous: '05 XR125L | '96 XJ600S Diversion |'05 Suzuki GSXR1000 | '05 Honda CBR125-R | '97 YZF 600R Thundercat | '11 Honda CBR250
Car: Jeep Wrangler 4.0L

[Rogerborg]

We just covered this. The specific offence requires the device to be held in the hand. If it's mounted, that doesn't apply.

However, if Constable McTargets wants to do you, he'll just use "[not in] proper control of the vehicle or [with] a full view of the road and traffic ahead." under C&U https://www.legislation.gov.uk/uksi/1986/1078/regulation/104/made

You get that for eating an apple.

Have the temerity to eat a banana in stationary traffic, and it escalates to careless driving.
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Biking is 1/20th as dangerous as horse riding.
GONE: HN125-8, LF-250B, GPz 305, GPZ 500S, Burgman 400 // RIDING: F650GS (800 twin), Royal Enfield Bullet Electra 500 AVL, Ninja 250R because racebike

[Pjay]

[skatefreak]

If you're on a bike I would suggest just using google maps, flop in some headphones (in ear bud types work bust cutting out wind noise as well), and listen to the directions...
I'm pretty sure that you can play music and it will quieten the music for direction 'announcements' as well
Does the job for me (since I always forget to set my phone to 'not change to landscape' before I leave and end up trying to read directions on roundabouts/corners that are sideways ).

[iooi]

[Rogerborg]

Use a cigarette as a stylus to work the GPS.
____________________
Biking is 1/20th as dangerous as horse riding.
GONE: HN125-8, LF-250B, GPz 305, GPZ 500S, Burgman 400 // RIDING: F650GS (800 twin), Royal Enfield Bullet Electra 500 AVL, Ninja 250R because racebike