Quebec man fined $120 for using his Apple Watch to change songs, even though the law only mentions h
58 replies, posted
[url]http://www.ctvnews.ca/sci-tech/quebec-man-fined-120-for-using-apple-watch-while-driving-1.2394358[/url]
[quote=CTV]A Quebec man plans to fight the $120 ticket and four demerit points he got for using his Apple Watch while driving.
Jeffrey Macesin said he was using his smartwatch to change songs when a provincial officer pulled him over on a road near Pincourt, Que.
Macesin said he was confused about why the officer’s flashing lights were on.
The officer then charged him under the section of the Quebec Highway Safety Code that says "no person may, while driving a road vehicle, [B]use a [I]hand-held device[/I] that includes a telephone function.[/B]"[/quote]
What the fuck???
Do Apple watches have a telephone function? That's the part I feel we should really be concerned about. Whether or not you're holding it is less of an important matter.
They don't have a telephone function but they do have a handset function. As far as I'm aware they still require the base iPhone to actually make the call. Could be wrong tho.
[QUOTE=gk99;47819717]Do Apple watches have a telephone function? That's the part I feel we should really be concerned about. Whether or not you're holding it is less of an important matter.[/QUOTE]
they can answer calls from your phone (as in you can accept calls but thats it) but you can't use it as a actual phone
[QUOTE=gk99;47819717]Do Apple watches have a telephone function? That's the part I feel we should really be concerned about. Whether or not you're holding it is less of an important matter.[/QUOTE]
I don't think that matters at all. It's not a device you hold in your hand. Nonetheless, it's stupid to get a fine for this.
so if I strap my phone to my wrist, is it still a handheld? or just it only make me look like a [URL="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-6l-f7fKVoHw/UI9s-6P1ueI/AAAAAAAAChg/OG2QOGoEeuc/s1600/Smartwatch.jpg"]total dickhead[/URL]
When we look at laws we need to take intent into consideration. This law was created to prevent distracted drivers from getting into accidents while they are on the road while they use electronic devices. When we look at this case Im sure the officer has the right intentions in mind but the technical wording in the law may only apply to his case in court if he could make phone calls with the apple watch.
We should keep in mind that distracted drivers are some of the top causes of motor vehicle collisions and distracted driving effects all of our safety.
[QUOTE=Darkwater124;47819729]I don't think that matters at all. It's not a device you hold in your hand. Nonetheless, it's stupid to get a fine for this.[/QUOTE]
If the watch has all the same functions as a handheld and still requires the user to look at it for usage, I can see where they're coming from. The "but it's not a handheld, it's tied to my wrist!" argument seems like a dumb legal loophole here.
This is exactly the reason why laws need to be constantly monitored and updated/assessed.
[QUOTE=J!NX;47819733]so if I strap my phone to my wrist, is it still a handheld? or just it only make me look like a [URL="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-6l-f7fKVoHw/UI9s-6P1ueI/AAAAAAAAChg/OG2QOGoEeuc/s1600/Smartwatch.jpg"]total dickhead[/URL][/QUOTE]
It can be argued that you are using a handheld device in a case worn on the arm.
Whereas, the watch is specifically designed not to be handheld.
[QUOTE=Bradyns;47819829]
It can be argued that you are using a handheld device in a case worn on the arm.
Whereas, the watch is specifically designed not to be handheld.[/QUOTE]
But the watch is designed to be used/controlled using the other hand.
[QUOTE=gk99;47819794]If the watch has all the same functions as a handheld and still requires the user to look at it for usage, I can see where they're coming from. The "but it's not a handheld, it's tied to my wrist!" argument seems like a dumb legal loophole here.[/QUOTE]
So using a smartwatch in the car should be legal unless it has a telephone function? What is the rationale behind that?
They could forbid touchscreen devices or something. At least that criterion would make sense.
I think if the man wasn't messing with his watch for an extended period of time, the police officer wouldn't have seen any reason to stop him. He must have been visibly distracted from driving for a driver of another vehicle to notice.
[QUOTE=Kljunas;47819983]So using a smartwatch in the car should be legal unless it has a telephone function? What is the rationale behind that?
They could forbid touchscreen devices or something. At least that criterion would make sense.[/QUOTE]
Except many new cars have touchscreens.
the inherent problem with using a phone 'handheld' in the car is it's a physical restriction. Your hand is to your head, it could impair your peripheral vision a little, and you're FAR less likely to turn your head to better observe your surroundings, and with one hand off the wheel you have less powerful/precise control in the case you'd need to react to an emergency. There's also the very real threat of having to look at a screen, you're not technically allowed to observe your phone at all. Complex touch screens in vehicles kind of bend this rule a ton, but at the same time their layout is roughly static so you should in theory be able to navigate them without much looking-at time
[QUOTE=Darkwater124;47819729]I don't think that matters at all. It's not a device you hold in your hand. Nonetheless, it's stupid to get a fine for this.[/QUOTE]
Distracted driving is distracted driving. Fine is justified 100% mate.
Guess this means I can read the news paper while driving if I tape the thing to the steering wheel because it's not a hand held right? It's not a hand held!
As people have pointed out, it's less about it being hand-held or having a telephone feature, and more about the fact that it can still distract the driver. Hell, someone hit an old woman on a crosswalk here a few weeks ago because they were busy messing with the AC controls in their car.
I think people should get fines for distracted driving, it's just the line on what is labelled as distracted driving and what isn't is fuzzy and they need to make the laws a lot more clear. Currently it seems people can't change songs on their phone when it's plugged in using an AUX cord, but they can fiddle around on the touch screen displays built in to vehicles all day long.
What's the difference between using a smart device to change the songs and using the the car's controls to change the radio station? Both distract the driver, yet cars still have radios and all sorts of other shit built in which can distract the driver.
Yeah, seriously, what about steering wheels with buttons that let you answer calls from a connected phone? That's a handheld device with telephone functions.
[QUOTE=DaMastez;47820218]What's the difference between using a smart device to change the songs and using the the car's controls to change the radio station? Both distract the driver, yet cars still have radios and all sorts of other shit built in which can distract the driver.[/QUOTE]
[img]http://pictures.dealer.com/n/northlanddodgetctc/0139/32fabe2133be216fd0f5afb99e9cd016x.jpg[/img]
this is what my truck has in it. yet you can fiddle around with any of that shit while driving and it's perfectly legal. lean over to hit one button on your phone to change the song? ILLEGAL
Is a watch a handheld now?
[QUOTE=Rangergxi;47820290]Is a watch a handheld now?[/QUOTE]
no but taping my phone to my dick doesn't mean i should be able to use it while driving
Should have asked Siri.
[QUOTE=Tetsmega;47820484]Should have asked Siri.[/QUOTE]
Siri change songs
Downloading and streaming the new U2 album now
[QUOTE=Fort83;47820552]Does Quebec have the Distracted Driving Law?[/QUOTE]
[url]http://distracteddriving.caa.ca/education/distracted-driving-laws-in-canada.php[/url]
Every province and territory aside from Nunavut has a distracted driving law, while BC and Ontario expand on that and ban any hand-held "electronic entertainment" devices as well.
BC has already appended their handsfree law to ban use of the watch while driving.
[quote]this is what my truck has in it. yet you can fiddle around with any of that shit while driving and it's perfectly legal. lean over to hit one button on your phone to change the song? ILLEGAL [/quote]
In-car entertainment systems are generally designed to be as minimally distractive to the driver as possible in order to be exempted from handsfree laws. Cars with controls on the steering wheels themselves are the best because half the time you do not even need to look down to change tracks for example. My car has one of these fitted to the steering column.
[img]http://www.crutchfield.com.edgesuite.net/pix.crutchfield.com/ImageHandler/fixedscale/400/300/lifestyle/2000/h158RMX4S.jpeg[/img]
Moving my left hand six inches to change a disc using the remote is WAY less distractive than taking my right hand and having to reach over to the stereo to do the same thing. Having needed to turn on the backlight on my watch while driving almost requires both hands and that is just to press one button. There is no swiping or spinning of dials.
[editline]maple syrup, eh.[/editline]
Oh god. I just realized you are in Prince George. :tinfoil:
Seems like a completely justified fine. You don't fiddle with stuff like that while driving, handheld or not.
I'd argue that watches are far less distracting than anything currently in a car. When something on the watch wants your attention, the screen is dedicated to solely that thing. Any time you want to do something in your car, you have to find the one button or knob on the stalk/panel that has a dozen other buttons for various functions. Plus, the ability to put your wrist near the top of the steering wheel means your eyes don't have to do anything other than change their focal point.
[QUOTE=Zeke129;47820701]I'd argue that watches are far less distracting than anything currently in a car. When something on the watch wants your attention, the screen is dedicated to solely that thing. Any time you want to do something in your car, you have to find the one button or knob on the stalk/panel that has a dozen other buttons for various functions. Plus, the ability to put your wrist near the top of the steering wheel means your eyes don't have to do anything other than change their focal point.[/QUOTE]
or maybe you should watch the road because cars are [URL="https://www.google.com/search?q=car+crash&es_sm=122&source=lnms&tbm=isch&sa=X&ei=N4JmVej8H5OWygTniYCoBg&ved=0CAcQ_AUoAQ&biw=1920&bih=922"]dangerous[/URL]
My only thought is, if its on your left wrist, then he was essentially creating a 'dash mounted music control' similar to a radio (it's a small watch so in the music app there's probably very basic driver friendly controls) except its located in peripheral view on the steering wheel. Thats probably the safest place for it to be. If he took the watch off and mounted it somewhere on the dash where he wouldnt have to look at it (or for any longer than a regular driver would take to look at the radio) he could, but honestly the left wrist (I guess only when the hand is in the 10 o clock position) is a pretty good spot. A lot of steering wheels have controls on the front of them.
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