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[Bullet Club]

UK government bans playing mobile phone games while driving​

Any handheld use of a mobile phone while driving will become illegal, the government has announced.

Details published today by the Department of Transport specifically call out mobile phone games as an activity which will become illegal while driving.

Anyone caught by police behind the wheel with their mobile phone in hand will face a £200 fixed penalty notice and six points on their driving licence.

Currently, it is only illegal to text or call using a mobile phone while driving. But the law is being strengthened and the highway code will change to make it illegal to use a handheld mobile phone in virtually any circumstance.

You will no longer be able to take photos or videos, scroll through music playlists on your phone, or quickly catch a creature in Pokémon Go.

This includes while a car is stationary at a traffic light or in a traffic jam.

I don't drive myself but have seen some terrible road etiquette from others who play Pokémon Go in cars around my local area - with various iPhones and iPads laid out across the dashboard. If you're reading this, you know who you are.

There are still exceptions for using a device attached to a cradle, such as for using your phone as a sat-nav, and for holding your device while stationary to make a contactless payment - for example at a drive-through or toll booth.

The law change follows a public consultation on the issue, with the vast majority in favour of stricter controls.

"Driver distraction can be deadly and using a handheld phone at the wheel is never worth the risk," said Mary Williams OBE, boss of road safety charity Brake. "This important road safety decision by government, coinciding with Road Safety Week, is very welcomed.

"This news is particularly welcomed by families suffering bereavement and catastrophic injury due to drivers being distracted by phones. The theme for Road Safety Week is road safety heroes - we can all be road safety heroes by giving driving our full attention."

Source: Eurogamer

People in the UK will have to go back to watching Pornhub while driving instead.

 

[Con-Z-epT]

People in the UK will have to go back to watching Pornhub while driving instead.

But for this you need two hands.

 

[Paasei]

Using a phone regardless of the reason was already illegal here for ages, rofl.

 

[TLZ]

You're not supposed to do anything else while driving, but driving.

 

[Bullet Club]

But for this you need two hands.

 

[Zenaku]

Time for me to get into the satnav/phone dock market. Just dock your phone and use it via satnav screen via passthrough!

They can't stop you using satnav while in the car!

Only £3000 for 4" screen, or £5000 for 7"

 

[Con-Z-epT]

Problem solved. Court order averted.

 

[kingfey]

What a chad to play games while driving. That is the king of gaming.

 

[MayauMiao]

But for this you need two hands.

Not with a Tenga Cup.

 

[kingfey]

You're not supposed to do anything else while driving, but driving.

 

[cormack12]

But for this you need two hands.

 

[GHG]

People in the UK will have to go back to watching Pornhub while driving instead.

Last time I was back in London I kept looking for female black cab drivers but couldn't find any.

 

[gradient]

Technically it's already illegal and falls under "Driving without due care and attention". A copper will have you on that charge if he sees you driving with your attention on your phone regardless of what you're doing on your phone.

This law just makes it explicit and creates publicity so people are clear that they shouldn't be on their damned phones while driving.

 

[KAL2006]

Had no idea this was a recent ban always assumed illegal to use a phone while driving in the UK for a long time

 

[Fuz]

They had to ban specifically playing games?

 

[FranXico]

Why does something that is common sense require a ban?
If you're driving, pay attention to the road FFS.

 

[Tschumi]

Seems like a no brainer to me, surprised it needs a law

 

[kingfey]

Why does something that is common sense require a ban?
If you're driving, pay attention to the road FFS.

People are pretty much dumb.
You have to enforce strict rules, for them to behave smart.
Common sense died, when smart phone was made, and social media got in to people's head.

 

[Black_Stride]

Wait the UK didnt have a ban on using your phone while driving already?
Im from a third world country and we banned phone usage while driving eons ago.
Granted some 80% of cars are manual/stick so drivers had to do no hands on the wheel gear changes......which had obvious results.

Fact they had to ban playing videogames specifically is also quite alarming....before the ban people were playing games while driving?

 

[chromhound]

Get a Bj while driving then?

 

[Gameplaylover]

 

[TheGodfather07]

Isn't using your phone at all not allowed? Not that most people will even get caught. So many people will use things like WhatsApp while driving. Just concentrate on driving ffs!

 

[Bullet Club]

Get a Bj while driving then?

*Slam on the brakes*

*CHOMP*

*GULP*

 

[Dr.Morris79]

Get a Bj while driving then?

Thats actually quite a feat, nearly crashed twice.

 

[anthony2690]

Why do I feel like this ban came about, because some smart arse said something along the lines off.

"Don't worry officer I'm not on my phone, I'm playing on the switch"

Edit: re-read it, mobile phone games, but isn't using your phone whilst driving already illegal? :S

 

[FireFly]

I'm confused as to what this changes.

"It’s illegal to hold a phone or sat nav while driving or riding a motorcycle."

Using a phone, sat nav or other device when driving

It’s illegal to hold a phone or a sat nav while driving - you'll get penalty points, a fine and can be banned from driving.

www.gov.uk

 

[M1chl]

Last time I was back in London I kept looking for female black cab drivers but couldn't find any.

Those Taxi movies are from Czech, is probably one and only cab in our country.

 

[ManaByte]

 

[Spaceman292]

But for this you need two hands.

Only if you lack ambition

 

[Team Andromeda]

I'm amazed it was even legal in the 1st place

 

[Unknown?]

What a chad to play games while driving. That is the king of gaming.

"I'm beating your ass while driving down the motorway, ya stupid wanker!"

 

[LeftThumbstick]

Wait the UK didnt have a ban on using your phone while driving already?
Im from a third world country and we banned phone usage while driving eons ago.
Granted some 80% of cars are manual/stick so drivers had to do no hands on the wheel gear changes......which had obvious results.

Fact they had to ban playing videogames specifically is also quite alarming....before the ban people were playing games while driving?

Yes, the use of a phone while driving has been banned for a long time here in the UK. Even for the likes of sat nav, you are not supposed to touch it while the car is in motion, you must pull over and park before adjusting it or answering a call etc.

Put it this way, if the police see you on your phone while driving, they WILL pull you over regardless of what you were doing on it.

 

[LeftThumbstick]

I'm amazed it was even legal in the 1st place

It wasn’t.

 

[Team Andromeda]

It wasn’t.

So why this thread ?

 

[synchronicity]

The fact that these sort of things even need to be laws is an indictment on human intelligence.

"I'm traveling at high speeds in a large and heavy piece of machinery. I'm bored. What else can I do?"

 

[Fare thee well]

What? But I've mastered driving with my leg while eating a cheeseburger in one hand and playing raid shadow legends in the other.

 

[kirby007]

legislation at its finest

 

[SSfox]

I only play games on my console at home, when i go out it's for other stuffs.

 

[Bitmap Frogs]

Being on a bike, I am higher seated than most drivers so I can see what they're doing and it's hilarious/scary how many are toying with screens even when not stopped.

 

[Azelover]

Using a phone regardless of the reason was already illegal here for ages, rofl.

Exactly. I came here to say just that

 

[Fuz]

The fact that these sort of things even need to be laws is an indictment on human intelligence.

"I'm traveling at high speeds in a large and heavy piece of machinery. I'm bored. What else can I do?"

UK is a very special kind of stupid.
I was stunned years ago when I learned they don't sell ethyl alcohol there - because they drink it.

 

[BusierDonkey]

I don't see a specific law against using a VR headset while driving.

Also playing mobile phone games even out of your car should be illegal.

 

[bender]

Thats actually quite a feat, nearly crashed twice.

I think he meant have someone else give you a blowjob.

 

[Dr.Morris79]

I think he meant have someone else give you a blowjob.

Is there any other way?

Did I miss something in our evolution?

 

[bender]

Is there any other way?

Did I miss something in our evolution?

 

[Dr.Morris79]

Thats my Saturday night sorted then.

 

[SlimeGooGoo]

.

 

[ReBurn]

Imagine having to legislate common sense.