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posted by Fnord666 on Wednesday February 07 2018, @01:10AM   Printer-friendly
from the does-it-matter-which-side? dept.

France bans smartphone use in cars even when you pull over

Road deaths have been on the rise lately in France and with nothing much else to pin it on, authorities are going after scofflaw drivers who text or call. It's now illegal to hold your phone on public roads even when you're pulled over to the side of the road, whether you're blocking traffic or not, Le Figaro reports. The high court ruling means that taking what some consider to be a safe step -- pulling over to talk on the phone -- could still result in points and a fine of 135 euros.

Rather create a new law, the ruling has clarified exactly what it means to be "circulating in traffic." Now, it's not enough to pull over and cut the motor in order to use your phone; you have to be parked in a designated spot. When you've had an accident or breakdown, however, you are allowed to call or text.


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  • (Score: 4, Insightful) by MostCynical on Wednesday February 07 2018, @02:32AM (7 children)

    by MostCynical (2589) on Wednesday February 07 2018, @02:32AM (#634260) Journal

    The issue is that stopped "safely", for some drivers means "wherever I damn please" even if that means blocking traffic.

    --
    "I guess once you start doubting, there's no end to it." -Batou, Ghost in the Shell: Stand Alone Complex
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  • (Score: 2, Informative) by khallow on Wednesday February 07 2018, @03:11AM

    by khallow (3766) Subscriber Badge on Wednesday February 07 2018, @03:11AM (#634269) Journal

    The issue is that stopped "safely", for some drivers means "wherever I damn please" even if that means blocking traffic.

    Then the issue should be about stopping in a bad place and dealt with appropriately. After all, cell phones aren't the only reason people can stop wherever.

  • (Score: 4, Interesting) by frojack on Wednesday February 07 2018, @04:49AM (3 children)

    by frojack (1554) on Wednesday February 07 2018, @04:49AM (#634296) Journal

    The issue is that stopped "safely"

    Go back and read TFS.
    Safety doesn't enter into it at all. Neither does blocking.

    Its just a matter of people pulling over to talk on the phone, which perhaps causes a slow down of adjacent traffic, even if not blocking, even if safely off the roadway.

    There might be a safety concern with any stopped vehicle. Lots of cars get rammed while pulled over. But I suspect its mostly about police micro-managing people's lives just because they can.

    --
    No, you are mistaken. I've always had this sig.
    • (Score: 1, Interesting) by Anonymous Coward on Wednesday February 07 2018, @05:05AM

      by Anonymous Coward on Wednesday February 07 2018, @05:05AM (#634300)

      I see this as being the French solution to the same irritation we have when we are all queued up behind the register at our local fast food joint, and one ignoramus being served accepts a phone call, and proceeds yapping while everyone else is waiting... and probably thinking about taking that coot's phone and ramming it up his, well, 'nuff said.

      Do that kind of crap on a French road and get a ticket.

    • (Score: 3, Funny) by VLM on Wednesday February 07 2018, @12:51PM (1 child)

      by VLM (445) Subscriber Badge on Wednesday February 07 2018, @12:51PM (#634384)

      Likely they need money, so here comes the sin taxes.

      • (Score: 2) by Freeman on Wednesday February 07 2018, @05:50PM

        by Freeman (732) on Wednesday February 07 2018, @05:50PM (#634457) Journal

        I guess the only people going to heaven are the barbarians then, 'cause we all talk on the phone. Sometimes even in the car.

        --
        Joshua 1:9 "Be strong and of a good courage; be not afraid, neither be thou dismayed: for the Lord thy God is with thee"
  • (Score: 3, Insightful) by isostatic on Wednesday February 07 2018, @03:06PM

    by isostatic (365) on Wednesday February 07 2018, @03:06PM (#634403) Journal

    In which case book them for causing an obstruction, whether they're on the phone or not.

  • (Score: 1) by nitehawk214 on Wednesday February 07 2018, @09:32PM

    by nitehawk214 (1304) on Wednesday February 07 2018, @09:32PM (#634575)

    Then the laws covering stopping in an unsafe / unauthorized place should apply.

    --
    "Don't you ever miss the days when you used to be nostalgic?" -Loiosh