What can you do while driving?

BBC 9 March 2006

A woman has been fined after being caught on camera applying make-up while driving. So what can you do while at the wheel?

With a compact mirror in one hand and an eye liner in the other, Donna Maddock applied her make-up. But this wasn't in her bedroom, the 22-year-old was driving at 32mph at the time.

She was caught by police who filmed her on a speed camera and has been fined £200 and had six points put on her licence after pleading guilty to careless driving. So what can you do while driving?

While certain things are most definitely against the law, with others it comes down to how the driver handles the car.

When it comes to things like eating, smoking, applying make-up, map reading and tuning in the car stereo, they are not against the law but drivers can be charged with careless driving or not being in proper control of their vehicle.

Discretion

It comes down to the discretion of the police and in the past a motorist has been fined for eating an apple while driving and feasting on a Kit Kat.

Research suggests such simple actions can have a serious effect on driving skills. A study for the AA found that fiddling with the car stereo caused drivers to cross lanes, go off the road, go above the speed limit and be more at risk of a collision.

But if a driver's attention falls "far below" the standard required, they could be guilty of the more serious offence of dangerous driving, which is punishable with a fine of up to £5,000 and/or six months in prison. Most serious of all is death by dangerous driving, which can carry a sentence of up to 14 years.

Driving while holding a mobile phone is a specific offence and is automatically punishable with a £30 fine. This will soon increase to £60 and three penalty points on a licence when the Road Safety Bill becomes law within the next few months.

This applies not just to phones but to all gadgets which send or receive data electronically, including PDAs and GPS navigation systems.

It is acceptable for drivers to use a mobile phone which is not handheld, such as one in a holder. So, in theory, drivers can use their PDAs as long as they are secured.

But, if it affects their driving they run the risk of being charged with careless driving, not being in proper control of their vehicle or dangerous driving.

And it seems most motorists commit these offences weekly. The average driver risks being pulled over by the police 10 times each week for a range of motoring offences, according to a recent survey by Churchill Car Insurance.

"Most drivers will be shocked by how many laws they break on their daily commute, " says a Churchill spokesman. "They seem to be completely unaware of their actions."

5. Comment on the following piece of news.

Driver’s film fine

A driver has been fined £80 – for watching The Invisible Man while travelling through Coventry, Divish Kumar Patel, 22, was driving a s he watched a TV mounted to his dashboard.

7. Read the article. Sum it up in 7-8 sentences. What do you think of this initiative?

Do you (your parents, friends) ever speak on the mobile when driving?