Sat Nav/Phone: Is it legal to have TV on the front screen?

[Ronnie bb]

As with numerous upgrades you can make to your car it only becomes an issue when you drive on a road.
You can legally fit a very small number plate or have the darkest windscreen fitted known to man, however as soon as you roll onto a road you fall foul to the law.
Most upgrades would trip you up under construction and use regs 1983/6.
Common sense works most of the time..!!!
I could go on and on but... I would send you all to sleep!!

[FaKaWi]

Originally Posted by StuT4

how do these double din units from Halford with pc/dvd/sat nav get away with being sold if its illegal just to have it on? can't believe they sell them expecting people to sit and watch tele in the car without it moving.

They are supplied with a connection for the handbrake. If PROPERLY installed, the unit will not operate in tv/DVD mode unless the handbrake is on. However, bypassing this is ridiculously simple.

[owenfackrell]

The latest ranger rover has a tv screen that when view from the drivers set is the sat nav whilst simultaneously show the passenger can see the tv which is very cool.

[GMad]

Originally Posted by owenfackrell

The latest ranger rover has a tv screen that when view from the drivers set is the sat nav whilst simultaneously show the passenger can see the tv which is very cool.

Aye, a mate of mine has just had a new Range Rover and it's full up to the brim with toys/gadgets. Very nice car indeed.

[400-ascona]

Originally Posted by BestGear

As said above, what the difference with a satnav or indeed like a BMW iDrive - colour screen and a TV..? I supose TV may get you hooked if Corrie comes on...

David

The MG ZT+ (don't forget the plus!) I bought whilst I swapped the gearbox on the XC90 had BMW TV/Sat Nav in it. Apart from the gorgeous young lady who advised of approaching speed cameras, the TV turns off as soon as you start moving, leaving a blue screen and just the sound.

I can confirm it miraculously turned off when Corrie came on (at least it did when I was in the car). Now where did I put that fuse.........

[drpepper]

Yep, illegal if you can watch it on the move. My D3 had a TV but it needed Electronic Park Brake on to use it, there was of course several hacks one of which I used but again common sesne and personal responsiblility comes into play - I only ever use to take a look at level crossings and when stuck in major mway jams, still illegal but not really a safety issue and as with these things you only really come a cropper whne something goes wrong!!

Older style traditional handbrakes are even easier as there's no hassle driving with it on the first notch, thus tricking the system.

H&S has gone mental in the UK so each to there own but just bear in mind the legal risks and apply common sense I guess.

[owenfackrell]

Older mercs (I think) used to work until the car hit 5 mph so that you could use it in traffic. We tend to use a laptop for the passenger as they can angle it away from the driver.

[RoyMacDonald]

In South Korea in 2008 3 people were killed and 351 injured by drivers watching TV while driving.

[Coconut]

Is it illegal to watch TV while driving on UK roads
( or have TV on in view of driver etc ) ?

YES - but why on Earth would you want to ...
unless you are a very irresponsible driver ?

Modern Sat Nav's can be a big enough distraction,
but are allowed as they are an aid to driving,
rather then distracting "entertainment".

Can anyone tel me how to have my home TV automatically switch OFF
when Corrie starts ? !

[400-ascona]

Originally Posted by Coconut

Can anyone tel me how to have my home TV automatically switch OFF
when Corrie starts ? !

Stop paying the electricity bill, eventually they will cut you off, hence preventing Corrie, Benders or Emmentalle making it to your screen. It may seem extreme, but I feel the pain of 2 hours soap each night justifies the sacrifice.