Can you use an ipad while driving?

[Boosh Brus]

Article discussing laws of technology and driving for anyone interested:

http://www.caradvice.com.au/70530/ca...while-driving/

[Kryton]

Obvious answer would be no, you cant.
Dont understand why anyone would think that you could.

[Boosh Brus]

Originally Posted by davway

Obvious answer would be no, you cant.
Dont understand why anyone would think that you could.

According to the article: "Legally, yes … but only if you’re an idiot"

[irlewy86]

Originally Posted by Boosh Brus

According to the article: "Legally, yes … but only if you’re an idiot"

You could be charged with "undue care and attention" so while there is nothing that prohibits it I wouldn't be suprised if someone was fined anyway.

[Tribal]

And lets wave goodbye to commonsense one more time... how are you going to feel if your kid was hit by a driver more pre-occupied with a digital screen than the responsibility of navigating a tonne and a half of metal along the road.

And all with the premise that an article you read said it was legal....

These threads really annoy me.

[Boosh Brus]

Originally Posted by Tribal

And lets wave goodbye to commonsense one more time... how are you going to feel if your kid was hit by a driver more pre-occupied with a digital screen than the responsibility of navigating a tonne and a half of metal along the road.

And all with the premise that an article you read said it was legal....

These threads really annoy me.

Uggg... I take it you didnt read the article. Its not endorsing driving with an ipad rather pointing out the shortcomings of the law e.g. it is illegal to use your iphone as an MP3 player but you are not forbidden from programing a GPS while driving. Or its illegal (and rightly so) to use a phone while driving but not if you are a police officer.

[max]

Originally Posted by Boosh Brus

Uggg... I take it you didnt read the article. Its not endorsing driving with an ipad rather pointing out the shortcomings of the law e.g. it is illegal to use your iphone as an MP3 player but you are not forbidden from programing a GPS while driving. Or its illegal (and rightly so) to use a phone while driving but not if you are a police officer.

Just out of interest, what about programming a GPS which is an app within the mobile phone?

[Yellow_Festiva]

Isn't there a blanket rule that covers this sort of thing? I don't know the correct wording, but failing to pay propper attention to your driving / failing to have proper control of your vehicle (like driving while eating / drinking)?

I think the more they specify what is and isn't allowed, the more a clever lawyer will find a loophole.

It does highlight the stupidity of it however. What about the use of CB radio? Pressing / programing a low set car stero, those computer things cabbies use for communication etc etc etc?

Make it general rule based more on police discression and stop adding clauses / special conditions IMO.

[tweeked]

I think with some double sided tape you can stick it to your horn pad.

With that you get Apples "Facebook" competitor uploaded when you crash.

IPadFace

[Oxa384]

idonthinkso

[tweeked]

Originally Posted by oxa384

idonthinkso

yeah.... Isn't there an "undue care and attention"?

[flappist]

Originally Posted by tweeked

yeah.... Isn't there an "undue care and attention"?

actually "without due care".......but your idea is right

[GS608]

Originally Posted by Boosh Brus

Uggg... I take it you didnt read the article. Its not endorsing driving with an ipad rather pointing out the shortcomings of the law e.g. it is illegal to use your iphone as an MP3 player but you are not forbidden from programing a GPS while driving. Or its illegal (and rightly so) to use a phone while driving but not if you are a police officer.

Why is that a problem? It is part of their job, how would you feel if you were in a life or death situation and there were problems with the radio comms (happens a lot) and because of some stupid law they have to pull over and add 5 or so minutes to their response time and they were late to assist you leaving you with multiple broken bones and lacerations?

[irlewy86]

Originally Posted by flappist

actually "without due care".......but your idea is right

Thats the one, a friend recived a fine for that for doing a wheelstand on a tractor. Obviously this was before the days of hoon laws.

[Bushbasher]

Originally Posted by Boosh Brus

According to the article: "Legally, yes … but only if you’re an idiot"

my thoughts exactly.


Bushbasher

[mick457]

blame the car companys for this dam those guys for coming up with all this great stuff we can intergrate into our cars
lets go back to the stone age of cars imo
when i got my licence i was driving an ae 92 rolla which had my stero and air con didnt get distracted by that at all
now sometimes with my ba i find myself looking at all the options eg climate controle
god help my brother if he ever got a new car hed probley die

[Mickxr8]

ipad+driver =istupid

my 2c

[geckoGT]

Originally Posted by Boosh Brus

Or its illegal (and rightly so) to use a phone while driving but not if you are a police officer.

Or any member of the emergency services.

It is not illegal for any member of the emergency services to use a device for communication including mobile phones whilst driving, as long as they are using due care and attention.

The individual services have a condition under their code of conduct that states they are to only use a mobile phone whilst driving in emergency situations. Failure to comply with this can result in disciplinary action and legal action if it results in a negligent act. We are certainly under tighter scrutiny than the average road user.

An example in the ambulance service is if we were driving to hospital, the officer in the back is too busy with the patient and the driver has to consult with the hospital to gain urgent medical advice, authorisation for advanced clinical procedures, arrange a meeting point with an intensive care paramedic or notify the hospital of the expected arrival time of a multiple trauma patient so that they can be prepared.

All these situations call for rapid and reliable communications that a radio is often inappropriate and delay could be life threatening.

I am very sure the police have the same sort of situations, trust me, radio communications are not available everywhere in all conditions.

As for the topic of this thread, why do we need to define every electronic device as they are released? Next people will be asking if it is legal to read an electronic book whilst driving. Common sense has to come in at some stage.

[LTDHO]

Wait a sec, people can operate touch screens on there iphones or head units!

[zdcol71]

"Heaven help the roads if we have to rely on the common sense of road users to decide when not to use an increasingly amazing array of hi-tech distractions".(Quote taken from the article)

Heaven help the roads if we have to rely on the common sense (of a very large proportion) of road users to decide anything!!

[geckoGT]

Originally Posted by LTDHO

Wait a sec, people can operate touch screens on there iphones

Not if you are seen by police dialing the phone while moving, that is considered as using a phone while driving even with a handsfree kit.

[billy302]

What are we coming too. Are you nuts
Forget the phone thing.
Dangerous driving is the charge.
Demerit points, large Fine and or loss of Licence. Anywhere in Australia.

[LTDHO]

Originally Posted by geckoGT

Not if you are seen by police dialing the phone while moving, that is considered as using a phone while driving even with a handsfree kit.

Can I use the touch screen on my head unit to

• skip tracks?
• change to CD?
• Make call from list?
• sellect location on SATNAV?

[ZDI-970]

couldnt resist...
iPad + driving = iCrash

[geckoGT]

Originally Posted by LTDHO

Can I use the touch screen on my head unit to

• skip tracks?
• change to CD?
• Make call from list?
• sellect location on SATNAV?

Its not a hand held phone is it, what do you think?

Is it a smart thing to do while you are driving, taking your eyes off the road for an extended period of time? Not really and if it resulted in an a crash, the charge of "driving without due care" has your name written on it.

[Full Noise]

Regardless of what the law is, it still amazes me that there are f-wits out there who still think that driving properly is so easy that using a laptop, Ipad or watching a DVD is OK.

The amount of times I’ve seen clowns watching DVDs while driving amazes me.

[DJR-351]

Can't be any worse than... http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zAkGv...eature=related ...lol

[Bluntman]

I've almost hit at least five idiots that stepped out onto the road in front of me while playing with their iPods (I drive through the city every day), so if you can't even walk while using one you shouldn't be using one in the car.

[04redxr8]

Originally Posted by geckoGT

Or any member of the emergency services.

It is not illegal for any member of the emergency services to use a device for communication including mobile phones whilst driving, as long as they are using due care and attention.

The individual services have a condition under their code of conduct that states they are to only use a mobile phone whilst driving in emergency situations. Failure to comply with this can result in disciplinary action and legal action if it results in a negligent act. We are certainly under tighter scrutiny than the average road user.

An example in the ambulance service is if we were driving to hospital, the officer in the back is too busy with the patient and the driver has to consult with the hospital to gain urgent medical advice, authorisation for advanced clinical procedures, arrange a meeting point with an intensive care paramedic or notify the hospital of the expected arrival time of a multiple trauma patient so that they can be prepared.

All these situations call for rapid and reliable communications that a radio is often inappropriate and delay could be life threatening.

I am very sure the police have the same sort of situations, trust me, radio communications are not available everywhere in all conditions.

As for the topic of this thread, why do we need to define every electronic device as they are released? Next people will be asking if it is legal to read an electronic book whilst driving. Common sense has to come in at some stage.

I thought the QAS would have supplied you guys with phones and compatable car kits. As you say, there are times when its critical for you guys to communicate with hospitals and other services.

As far as commonsense, if we had that, we would only need half or a quarter of emergency staff. You may be unemployed if it wasn't for the stupid amongst us. Think of that when you treat the next idiot you come across.

I do however have an issue with Police using mobile phones. I looked at a police car beside me once and could not believe the number of distractions and view blocking devices on the dash. (I counted 3). If thats what it takes to operate a police car there should be mandatory 2 officers per car. Typing rego numbers into a computer, checking data calling base and driving (sometimes at speed), and I can get booked just for looking down??

[platinumXR]

For NSW Viewers:

Australian Road Rules 2008
Current version for 1 March 2010 to date
Part 18Division 1Rule 300

300 Use of mobile phones by drivers
(1) The driver of a vehicle (except an emergency vehicle or police vehicle) must not use a mobile phone that the driver is holding in his or her hand while the vehicle is moving, or is stationary but not parked, unless the driver is exempt from this rule under another law of this jurisdiction.

Maximum penalty: 20 penalty units.


Note. Emergency vehicle, park and police vehicle are defined in the Dictionary.
(1–1) Subrule (1) does not apply to the driver of a vehicle who is the holder of a learner licence or provisional P1 licence.

Note 1. Learner licence is defined in the Act, and provisional P1 licence is defined in the Dictionary.

Note 2. Rule 300–1 places restrictions on the use of mobile phones, whether or not held in the hand, by the holder of a learner licence or provisional P1 licence.

(2) In this rule:
mobile phone does not include a CB radio or any other two-way radio.

use, in relation to a mobile phone, includes the following:

(a) holding the phone to, or near, the ear (whether or not engaged in a phone call),
(b) writing, sending or reading a text message on the phone,
(c) turning the phone on or off,
(d) operating any other function of the phone.[U]


Road Rules 2008
Current version for 1 March 2010 to date
Part 19Rule 305

305 Exemption for drivers of police vehicles

(1) A provision of these Rules does not apply to the driver of a police vehicle if:
(a) in the circumstances:
(i) the driver is taking reasonable care, and
(ii) it is reasonable that the provision should not apply, and
(b) if the vehicle is a motor vehicle that is moving—the vehicle is displaying a blue or red flashing light or sounding an alarm.

Note. Motor vehicle and police vehicle are defined in the Dictionary.
(2) Subrule (1) (b) does not apply to the driver if, in the circumstances, it is reasonable:
(a) not to display the light or sound the alarm, or
(b) for the vehicle not to be fitted or equipped with a blue or red flashing light or an alarm.