Hand held uhf's and driving

It is perfectly legal to use a UHF radio whilst driving in QLD!

Not sure, but I expect it would be. Seems the boys in blue may have 2 sets of rules here ...?

driving while you eat a hamburger is far more dangerous - i know because i do it all the time. smoking while driving has to be more dangerous still, and should definately be banned.

Yeh, fags are dangerous heh??

But then tuning your radio is dangerous, talking to your backseat passenger is dangerous (especially if you turn your head to look at them) same applies to your front seat passenger or Mum with the kids.

What about the suicidal jockey who just lost his job, girlfriend, wife, kids, money & etc etc.

This is the trouble with our laws. They pick out something easy to monitor and make money out of. The do not approach the real problem, in this case, of driver inattention. But what can we honestly expect.

Cheers

Nomad

The most dangerous is these new fangled radio/CD players with tiny push buttons that select any of three or four functions depending on how many times ya press 'em with buttons so small that only a child with a knitting needle can press 'em accurately.

My eyes aren't what they used to be - ( what were they before? Yer feet??) - and I'm stuck with listening to one radio channel if I don't change it before I start driving!

Whoever said "Life begins at 40" was a liar :)

Bilbo

Just cruising through some subjects, and noticed your question. The answer is that in Dec 1999 the Australian Road Rules were introduced to consolidate and make a uniform list of rules which apply right around Australia. One of those rules is the banning of using hand held mobile phones while driving or stationary at traffic lights. (wasn't an offence in SA or some other states until then). Now it is across Australia, and the section also includes use of radios (anything that is hand held - including portable or car based) If you have to use a hand to operate it, you can't use it and have to pull over and get a legal park before doing so.

To the reponse about Police having two sets of rules, don't be stupid. Emergency vehicles are exempted under the Road Rules, for more than obvious reasons.

What it means to you though, is if you are driving on a dirt road in the middle of nowhere with a group of friends chatting on the UHF, and there are no coppers around, then who really cares. However, if you have a head-on and kill the occupants of another car and when they recover you from the 4by you have a radio mike stuck in you mouth then it won't help your cause much.

Hope this helps

P.S. Statistics have proven that you are 70% more likely to have an accident if you are using a hand held device such as mobile phone or radio.

Ok People, I have to eat humble pie and apologise for the wrong info - I WAS WRONG. There, I said it. I have to say though that I am shocked because I did research the topic a few years back and must have misread the bit that says EXCLUDES as INCLUDES (I seriously had to read it numerous time to convince myself). My point though in relation to in the event of an accident due to using the radio still stands.

Sorry folk

I was discussing a similar topic with a mate of mine who's full time job is driving his missus and dog around australia in a converted coach.

We were trying to figure out why talking on a phone is far more distracting than talking on a UHF. Best we could come up with was coz on a phone there is the expectation of flowing conversation and the knowledge that time is money on mobile phones. Whereas on a UHF if you don't answer immediately then the other party will just wait till you do.