Solange wonders. Can she continue to use her mobile phone as GPS but by “connecting it by cable to my on-board computer, not by Bluetooth”, specifying that she is looking at the screen of her car and not the screen of the telephone. Jean-Jacques wonders if he can put his smartphone in a notch and not fix it in a specially adapted holder. He claims to be able to hear and answer a call while keeping his hands on the wheel. He too wonders if he might not be fined.
These are two of the questions recently received by the Vias Institute regarding mobile phones while driving. As a reminder, a modification of article 8.4 of the highway code no longer authorizes the manipulation of a telephone or any other mobile device if it is not correctly fixed. “With this new regulation, drivers are afraid of being fined because the fine has increased sharply. It is 174 euros without counting the costs. It is now a third degree offense and no longer a second,” analyzes Benoît Godart, spokesperson for Vias. The road safety specialist reassures: in both cases the drivers do not risk a fine. One can continue to touch the screen of the mobile phone if it is in a support and the connection cable does not contravene the law.
Watch a movie
While Belgium tightens its legislation, Great Britain plans to authorize English motorists to watch films on the screen integrated into the north panel of a self-driving car. Therefore, they would not be held responsible in the event of an accident. “It’s not at all on the agenda for us”, reacts Benoît Godart “It is too early to legislate in this area. People will take it for granted and start watching movies,” he fears. Anyway, the highway code should recognize the existence of autonomous vehicles, which is still not the case in Belgium.