Looks like just the earphone type of kit that will be banned, I suppose it would be very difficult to ban a proper bluetooth kit as no one can tell what or who you're talking to. ie it just looks like you're talking to your passenger.
Facebooking and texting whilst driving should be cracked down on everywhere, it's ridiculous how many drivers you see swerving about the road staring into their laps, obviously faffing about with a phone.
Interesting - it says all kinds of hands free kits. Not sure how that will cover integrated ones like mine. Guess you simply can't take phone calls at all
Also banning tinted windows - again assume that can't cover UK cars as they would be legal in UK but not in France.
Like all French knee jerk reaction laws more detail will be needed
Yep it has been proven that using even a hands free phone intregated or not, is just as dangerous as drink driving in some instances.
As a Rep doing some 30k Business miles per year, I have for many years refused to takes business calls whilst driving, and have told my Boss on numerous occasions not to phone me whilst I am at work.
Which does infuriate him, as when I am not at work, my mobile phone is turned of!
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Quote: Originally posted by Francais on 29/1/2015
Yep it has been proven that using even a hands free phone intregated or not, is just as dangerous as drink driving in some instances.
As a Rep doing some 30k Business miles per year, I have for many years refused to takes business calls whilst driving, and have told my Boss on numerous occasions not to phone me whilst I am at work.
Which does infuriate him, as when I am not at work, my mobile phone is turned of!
Problem is where does it stop?
Smoking whilst driving is distracting, changing radio stations is distracting, having kids in back arguing can be distracting
I very rarely take more than quick calls on the hands free and will always call someone back but I certainly wouldn't be happy if any of my staff refused to take any calls! I would assume you call back when you arrive or pull over!
I think this is just bluetooth earpieces & so on, not built in hands free. In UK before specific mobile phone law, use of handheld phone was covered under the general law on not having proper control where a cop can report you for eating a sandwich while driving etc. I guess in the UK you could still get nicked if you were putting bluetooth into ear or fiddling with headset while driving.
If I had to manage without my bluetooth connected "Parrot" thingy, and therefore not actually taking a call whilst driving, I could live with that, and call them back later.
If they expect me to go to the trouble of replacing 5 of my 8 windows, they can do un!
Back in 80's when I was a Rep doing 90k business miles, all we had was a Pager, and a BT Phone Card, in fact we use to covet a Phone called the Rabbit.
And in fairness the Rabbit Phone was a dam good idea, and I can see something similar making a return to the market.
Yep, Sunshine I will always Phone the Boss back from either a Costa or Starbucks, that way a get to put a claim in for large Cappuccino as well, as usually a conversation with the boss involves looking at some emails etc.
Quote: Originally posted by Mucker1884 on 29/1/2015
If they expect me to go to the trouble of replacing 5 of my 8 windows, they can do un!
In France all windows except windscreen can be dark tinted. In UK, windscreen & front side windows cannot be dark tinted so presumably new French regulation would be as UK is now?
I can quote an instance why there may be so many accidents. On Friday we were lunching in a small restaurant in Fabrezan. In the same place was a party of fourteen men, from the local hunt, celebrating the end of the hunting season. There were many empty carafes of wine on the table, and they all seemed pretty merry as they left. They then each got into their own car and drove away! Fourteen potential accidents waiting to happen!!
Despite the original article mentioning breathalysers, and the supposed intention to make all stores selling alcohol stock them, the French just don't take the requirement to have one seriously, and even the gendarmes who stopped our friend and breathalysed him were not interested in whether he had his own personal breathalyser or not!
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Quote: Originally posted by Billy.... on 29/1/2015
Quote: Originally posted by Mucker1884 on 29/1/2015If they expect me to go to the trouble of replacing 5 of my 8 windows, they can do un!
In France all windows except windscreen can be dark tinted. In UK, windscreen & front side windows cannot be dark tinted so presumably new French regulation would be as UK is now?
But from the link in the OP, the article states:
"No more tinted windows...
The French government wants clear windows on all cars. Currently, only tainted windscreens are banned, but Cazeneuve intends to see this extended to cover all car windows in the coming years."
Mine is as you say, windscreen and front doors aren't tinted. But my two rear doors, plus "very rear" sides (I have a 7 seater MPV) and the tailgate are all tinted.
This article hints at all windows being non-tinted.
Still, I'm sure this will be a few years down the line, if at all, so I certainly won't be losing sleep over it for now.
A lot of cars have the privacy glass in the rear (sides and back) including our Sorento. The other windows are slightly tinted,not many cars without some tint on all the glass these days.
I don't have a problem with banning using phones, my wife would not take calls on her work phone when driving despite having hands free. She just picked up the messages when she stopped.
A lot of cars have multifunction touch screens as standard-what about these?
------------- DS-There's more to life than football!!!
I'm pretty sure that the Type Approval system would mean that, so long as windows are lawful in the UK, they cannot be unlawful in France.
So a UK registered car being driven in France cannot commit an offence.Things like the earpieces can be enacted locally. Tests show that any conversation on a hands free can be just as distracting as being impaired through drink or drugs. And rather worryingly, you can be impaired with 5mg alcohol per 100ml breath, when the legal limit is 35mg!
The French have needed to get a grip for years. I don't think these measures will be a major surprise or difference to us Brits!
------------- Glyn W.
What if the Hokey Cokey really is what it's all about....?
Use f phones in all of Europe should also be banned. They are very distracting no matter how the driver is connected.
Nothing can be so urgent as to require the driver's immediate response at risk of causing an accident.
The French also need to get to grips with their drink driving problem. It's no use making laws if everyone ignores them.
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Topic: France bans hands free kits and more..
