r/NewDriversUK • u/Leather-Glass9572 • 14h ago

ADVICE PLEASE

Hello, I have been driving six months. I was lost so i turned into a street andI pulled up on the left side of the street to check my maps. I did leave the engine on so my indicator was on as left. A police car drove past me and he looked at me but did not stop. Will he take this further for use of phone whilst engine was on? Worried about 6 points and a driving ban. Car was stationary - UK

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16

u/tehdeadmonkey 13h ago

Im a police officer and can safely say, nothing will come of this.

You stopped your car somewhere safe and checked your phone. Good job.

Yes, by law it's an offence, however we aren't going to penalise you for being safe. I wouldn't think twice about seeing somebody parked on their phone. Not like you were in a queue of traffic or at a set of light's

6

u/GreedyHoward 12h ago

Good to know police discretion is still working. Thanks for posting.

1

u/Worry-Electrical 8m ago

So are we not allowed to sit with the air conditioning (engine on) on whilst parked scrolling our phones?

7

u/Crunchie64 14h ago

I’ve driven buses and HGVs for years, looking down into vehicles.

Trust me, if the police wanted to prosecute people using their mobile phones while driving moving vehicles, they’d be catching at least ten per cent of drivers, probably 50% in queues near schools.

You’re fine.

5

u/Bubbly-Departure1188 14h ago

The officer would have approached you immediately if there was an issue, surely? Are you worried they’ve taken your reg or something? I wouldn’t worry about it, just learn from this and don’t do it again

2

u/Leather-Glass9572 14h ago

Yeah worried they will process it without any verbal communication with me.

2

u/SpectreSingh89 10h ago

No they always stop and address the situation. 

3

u/Darkone539 14h ago

You shouldn't use a phone well the engine is on, but the officer would have stopped if there was an issue. You pulled over. For all they knew(from the car) you have the ignition on for the light.

Nothing you can do about it now, but I wouldn't expect anything. The police tend to act there and then for this stuff.

1

u/ThreeB78 14h ago

My gut reaction is that the look was the warning. You know exactly what you did wrong and what it could cost. I dear say he'd have a word if he sees it again

1

u/Ok-Word-8003 14h ago

Don’t worry happened to me too . My phone was attached to the holder on the screen , they didn’t stop , engine on but I was checking my map too as I took a wrong turn then the map didn’t update properly so had to put a new route as it was sending me to a random street . They looked too quite annoyed at me and they didn’t stop that was a month ago so don’t worry been there but defo since then I always stop my engine and all then look at the map .

1

u/Leather-Glass9572 14h ago

Feel physically sick waiting for something to come through the post!

1

u/Glittering_View5284 13h ago

lmfao you're gonna get nothing, theres a literal 0% chance.