Alternative Devices to Remote Control Your Mobile Phone to Avoid Loss of Demerit Points

[Deactivated] on 09/01/2019 - 22:14

As everyone may know getting caught simply touching your phone carries 5 demerit points (in NSW afaik)

I understand that you can use a smart watch to control calls / play music etc without being penalised so I was thinking what if I got something like an iPod touch and used it to control all the stuff on my phone ? Basically mimic all functions of my phone yet do it all without touching my phone at all from a device that is not classified as a phone in any way.

Would that be breaking the law ?

Would it be no different than controlling it with a smart watch ?

Any law experts out there that could shed light if this could work ?

And separately to this - how would say an Uber driver accept a new job through their App if they weren't allowed to touch their phone while driving ? The App sometimes pops up a nearby job for drivers before they even finish dropping someone off - so technically they are breaking the law every time they accept a job while still on a job.

Automotive Car Mobile Phone

Comments

  • [Deactivated] on 09/01/2019 - 22:17
    +3

    Heard of Siri?

    • [Deactivated] on 09/01/2019 - 22:25

      Well for one - Siri didn’t work very well to take me to a particular address in Google Maps (in fact it didn’t work at all just opened Maps)

      Also - to activate Siri you need a Bluetooth device / smart watch / smart car.

      I guess things are moving towards CarPlay but not everyone has that.

      • kerfuffle on 09/01/2019 - 22:52

        Well for one - Siri didn’t work very well to take me to a particular address in Google Maps (in fact it didn’t work at all just opened Maps)

        Google Assistant works pretty well in this regard e.g. Hey Google, take me to Westfield Parramatta or Hey Google, take me to 1 Market Street, Sydney

      • Danstar on 10/01/2019 - 06:38

        Maybe you should try again. I was showing my parents Siri yesterday and got them to ask siri to take them to my address and it popped open the Maps app and starting giving directions

        I've also used it to start playing a podcast by name

    • dcep on 09/01/2019 - 22:45
      +1

      Sorry, something's wrong. Please try again.

  • LikeMike on 09/01/2019 - 22:25
    +4

    You can get penalised for holding anything while driving, whether it be a phone or a cheeseburger. Arguing that a iPod isn't a phone won't fly at all with any judge.

    • dcep on 09/01/2019 - 22:43
      +1

      what about holding the stick

      • bdl on 10/01/2019 - 01:22

        As long as the selfie stick is out the sunroof, you should be OK :P

  • itsdougie on 09/01/2019 - 22:25

    how would say an Uber driver accept a new job through their App if they weren't allowed to touch their phone while driving

    Uber drivers are not above the law, they would have to stop to accept the job even with a passenger travelling with them

    so technically they are breaking the law every time they accept a job while still on a job.

    there are breaking the law

    • [Deactivated] on 09/01/2019 - 22:30

      You could almost argue that Uber is not following best design practices to comply with the law. If anything they are encouraging users to break the law specially if it means the users are enticed to make more money by accepting nearby jobs before they finish with their current.

    • HighAndDry on 10/01/2019 - 01:20

      OP is mistaken. You can touch your phone while driving if it's properly mounted.

    • ronnknee on 10/01/2019 - 11:03

      I would argue that it falls under "driver's aid" as it does provide GPS navigation.

  • John Kimble on 09/01/2019 - 22:33
    +4

    You can touch your phone for certain things if you've got a full licence and it's mounted securely.

    https://www.news.com.au/technology/innovation/motoring/on-th…

    • [Deactivated] on 09/01/2019 - 23:05

      That's Sept 2018 so I think I'll go read the actual law to double check

  • Richardc on 09/01/2019 - 23:06

    I use aux cable with mic.

  • HighAndDry on 10/01/2019 - 01:19
    +2

    As everyone may know getting caught simply touching your phone carries 5 demerit points (in NSW afaik)

    Kimble has already said this but just to reiterate, 'as far as you know' is incorrect. You can absolutely touch your phone if it's in a car mount.

  • Bid Sniper on 10/01/2019 - 08:25
    +2

    I use Android auto, works great

  • ywpn on 10/01/2019 - 08:35
    +1

    Get a head unit with Android Auto or Apple Car Play, if you have the budget.

    A Bluetooth FM transmitter could be useful if you're only using it for music.

  • Ryanek on 10/01/2019 - 08:40

    Upgrade your car's head unit that supports Android Auto and/or Carplay.

  • ATTS on 10/01/2019 - 09:10

    just wondering,

    Is it legal to pass phone to passenger?

    is it legal to touch phone while mounted ?

    thanks

    • [Deactivated] on 10/01/2019 - 09:12

      So the rules say you can pass to passenger.

      And you can touch while mounted only for the following purpose:

      • To answer or make phone calls (dial numbers ok)
      • To manipulate audio through bluetooth or aux or other through music function or other
      • To manipulate navigation or any other travel assistance application

      BUT THIS IS ONLY IF YOU HAVE A FULL LICENSE. P and L drivers cannot do the above !!

      So I guess Uber drivers are not breaking the law.

Login or Join to leave a comment
Login Join