The proper place for a satnav? Bottom right, police advise wrongly
CONFUSION over the use of satnavs deepened yesterday as police wrongly told drivers not to place the devices anywhere other than in the bottom right corner of the windscreen.
Greater Manchester Police (GMP) was criticised after tweeting that “everywhere else is illegal”, despite the law making no mention of where to place a satnav. The force later deleted the tweet and replaced it with a list of “options” for where best to position a device.
However, legal experts said the episode further illustrated the legal uncertainty motorists currently face.
It comes days after motoring organisations said drivers are being persecuted for using their mobile phones as satnavs because of “conflicting advice from ministers and police”, creating confusion over the legal position.
Tough penalties were introduced in April to clamp down on drivers using their mobile phones to make calls and send texts while driving which can be extended to following maps on them.
By contrast, the law does not mention where a satnav should or should not be placed on a windscreen. Instead, drivers are under a general obligation to be in proper control of their vehicle, which includes having a clear view of the road and other traffic.
Last night senior lawyers told The
Daily Telegraph the lack of specificity was allowing police to make up their own interpretation of the law.
Donal Lawler, secretary of the Criminal Bar Association, said: “It might be sensible to say that the bottom righthand corner is the most sensible place to position a satnav but it is not the legal place. That is certainly not the law. Police need to be very careful that what they are saying is absolutely correct.”
GMP later acknowledged its original tweet was “factually incorrect”. It was removed after Twitter users commented on a circular blemish in the bottom centre of the windscreen in the photograph, prompting speculation that the tweeter had previously failed to follow their own advice.
The confusion was compounded later in the day as GMP then tweeted advice to motorists which said “using a satnav while driving” could result in prosecution. This was subsequently removed, with the word “using” replaced with “touching or engaging” after the RAC pointed out the error. Simon Williams, a spokesman for the motor- ing organisation, said: “There does appear to be real confusion among drivers regarding both mobile phones as satnavs and where to put them. We think the law could be better clarified.”
However, Mr Lawler said: “The Highway Code says your windscreen should be clear of all obstruction,” he said. “Being in breach of the code is not an offence and I think the police were being overly dogmatic in this case.”
The new rules over using a phone as a satnav means drivers should programme the route before they set off and pull over if they need to change it.
From March 2017, drivers have been liable for a £200 fine and six points on their licence for breaching the law.
A GMP spokesman said: “If you need to put your satnav on your windscreen the law states that you must make sure that you position it so it is not obscuring your view.
“If you get stopped by the police and have a device that is deemed to be obscuring your view you may be prosecuted and could face a £50 fine.”