Legalities of using Apple Watch while driving.

[RRR70]

I have Bluetooth in my personal car but not in the store truck. Can I use Apple watch to answer the phone?

 

[Shaggy]

I'm not sure how the Apple Watch works. Does it have its own speaker/microphone?

As long as you're not holding the phone in your hand while driving I would say you're fine.

 

[RRR70]

Yes. I can call and answer calls from it.

 

[Shaggy]

Yes. I can call and answer calls from it.

Sounds to me like it meets the "hands free" requirement for 23123 VC. Unless it can read aloud and accept dictation, you'd still be prohibited from using it for text messages though.

23123 VC - Hand-Held Wireless Telephone: Prohibited Use

(a) A person shall not drive a motor vehicle while using a wireless telephone unless that telephone is specifically designed and configured to allow hands-free listening and talking, and is used in that manner while driving.

(b) A violation of this section is an infraction punishable by a base fine of twenty dollars ($20) for a first offense and fifty dollars ($50) for each subsequent offense.

(c) This section does not apply to a person using a wireless telephone for emergency purposes, including, but not limited to, an emergency call to a law enforcement agency, health care provider, fire department, or other emergency services agency or entity.

(d) This section does not apply to an emergency services professional using a wireless telephone while operating an authorized emergency vehicle, as defined in Section 165, in the course and scope of his or her duties.

(e) This section does not apply to a person driving a schoolbus or transit vehicle that is subject to Section 23125.

(f) This section does not apply to a person while driving a motor vehicle on private property.

(g) This section shall become operative on July 1, 2011.

Added Sec. 5, Ch. 290, Stats. 2006. Effective January 1, 2007. Operative July 1, 2011.
Amended Sec. 3, Ch. 214, Stats. 2007. Effective January 1, 2008. Operative July 1, 2011.

23123.5 VC - Electronic Wireless Communications Device: Prohibited Use

(a) A person shall not drive a motor vehicle while using an electronic wireless communications device to write, send, or read a text-based communication, unless the electronic wireless communications device is specifically designed and configured to allow voiceoperated and hands-free operation to dictate, send, or listen to a text-based communication, and it is used in that manner while driving.

(b) As used in this section "write, send, or read a text-based communication" means using an electronic wireless communications device to manually communicate with any person using a text-based communication, including, but not limited to, communications referred to as a text message, instant message, or electronic mail.

(c) For purposes of this section, a person shall not be deemed to be writing, reading, or sending a text-based communication if the person reads, selects, or enters a telephone number or name in an electronic wireless communications device for the purpose of making or receiving a telephone call or if a person otherwise activates or deactivates a feature or function on an electronic wireless communications device.

(d) A violation of this section is an infraction punishable by a base fine of twenty dollars ($20) for a first offense and fifty dollars ($50) for each subsequent offense.

(e) This section does not apply to an emergency services professional using an electronic wireless communications device while operating an authorized emergency vehicle, as defined in Section 165, in the course and scope of his or her duties.

Added Sec. 2, Ch. 270, Stats. 2008. Effective January 1, 2009.
Amended Sec. 1, Ch. 92, Stats. 2012. Effective January 1, 2013.

 

[budman]

I am just so frustrated with the eyes down crowd.

 

[dkcwenge]

I am just so frustrated with the eyes down crowd.

i am too. especially when you see the car drifting into the next lane and running through the shoulder because they're clearly not looking at the road.

i have a regular wrist watch that takes .25 sec to glance at and obtain the info i need. Doesn't affect my attention

 

[berth]

i have a regular wrist watch that takes .25 sec to glance at and obtain the info i need. Doesn't affect my attention

The problem is that the info that the watch is showing you is quite basic, trivial to interpret, and, barring "OMG I'm late!", tends to have very little cognitive impact.


Swap out simple time and date with text, and the game changes. Also your watch doesn't tend to alert you of a time change, so rarely "demands" your attention in contrast to an incoming text message. "Wait, what just happened!?"

The simple point being, it's not the medium, it's the message.

 

[dkcwenge]

The problem is that the info that the watch is showing you is quite basic, trivial to interpret, and, barring "OMG I'm late!", tends to have very little cognitive impact.


Swap out simple time and date with text, and the game changes. Also your watch doesn't tend to alert you of a time change, so rarely "demands" your attention in contrast to an incoming text message. "Wait, what just happened!?"

The simple point being, it's not the medium, it's the message.

agreed! even if we could display our txt messages to a HUD, it is obviously still safer to just quit using our "smart" devices when we drive.

 

[packnrat]

time for a whole new set of laws

 

[bojangle]

agreed! even if we could display our txt messages to a HUD, it is obviously still safer to just quit using our "smart" devices when we drive.

Yep. You can read your HUD right into the back of another vehicle.

time for a whole new set of laws

That will fix everything.

 

[mototireguy]

I am just so frustrated with the eyes down crowd.

+1

 

[dowlinginchico]

At $20 for the first and $50 each subsequent violation, here may lie the problem. Add some zeros and license suspensions may help?

EDIT: Finally a +1 for a phone that requires hands off, I think. I wonder if it is tempting to look at with hands at 10 and 2

 

[msethhunter]

+1

You have no idea.

 

[dravnx]

You have no idea.

I do, have had my pilot's license for over 20 years. There are many, many tasks a pilot has to perform that involves not looking out the window. It's normal and expected. Charts, notes, programming avionics. It can't be compared to driving. Not even close. As a matter of fact, the pilot in the picture may be on an IFR flight and not have to look out the window until he's 200' above the runway.

 

[explorin]

I do, have had my pilot's license for over 20 years. There are many, many tasks a pilot has to perform that involves not looking out the window. It's normal and expected. Charts, notes, programming avionics. It can't be compared to driving. Not even close. As a matter of fact, the pilot in the picture may be on an IFR flight and not have to look out the window until he's 200' above the runway.

True dat. I like the picture of a airliner in flight and the window is covered in chart maps