Parked car with engine running....

Female cricket commentator on TMS ( Ebony Rainsford Brent I think it was) Said she had a hybrid hire car and because the engine was that quiet, when she had parked car she had mistakenly left the engine running all day till battery eventually died. Obviously with modern cars not being key start just pushbutton start she had locked door and just walked away with keys.
 
Female cricket commentator on TMS ( Ebony Rainsford Brent I think it was) Said she had a hybrid hire car and because the engine was that quiet, when she had parked car she had mistakenly left the engine running all day till battery eventually died. Obviously with modern cars not being key start just pushbutton start she had locked door and just walked away with keys.
That's strange. My car beeps like crazy if you try to do that.
 
Regards to the “touch a phone” part.

I think you’re incorrect. I believe you can touch your phone if it’s on a dashboard / windscreen Mount etc.

Also regards to the drive through part, you may be right technically but no Bobby would ever do you for that. If you’re on the phone but are stationary with car in neutral and handbrake on, effectively the car would be parked safely and you’d be fined
It was an adjudication by a chief constable that I read that said to switch off and apply hand brake at a drive-thru or his force would take action.

The highway code says you shouldn't even use hands free but it's not illegal. Various organisations come to a similar conclusion to below:

You are allowed to use hands free kit but again you’re not allowed to touch any button on your mobile phone while driving.

If the police think you are distracted (even if you’re on hands free) while driving, then they can still fine you £200 and hand you six penalty points. So you have to take into consideration whether it’s worth the risk.

The AA recommends to drivers who need to take a call while driving to stop the car, park, and turn the engine off OR just leave it to go to voicemail
 
It was an adjudication by a chief constable that I read that said to switch off and apply hand brake at a drive-thru or his force would take action.

The highway code says you shouldn't even use hands free but it's not illegal. Various organisations come to a similar conclusion to below:

You are allowed to use hands free kit but again you’re not allowed to touch any button on your mobile phone while driving.

If the police think you are distracted (even if you’re on hands free) while driving, then they can still fine you £200 and hand you six penalty points. So you have to take into consideration whether it’s worth the risk.

The AA recommends to drivers who need to take a call while driving to stop the car, park, and turn the engine off OR just leave it to go to voicemail
I must admit that even though I have all the controls on the steering wheel, I really don't like answering it and generally leave it to go to voicemail.
 
So if I use Apple Pay on my mobile at a McDonalds drive through I’ve committed an offence, but if I shove my card and PIN number in I haven’t ?
 
So if I use Apple Pay on my mobile at a McDonalds drive through I’ve committed an offence, but if I shove my card and PIN number in I haven’t ?
The police could still prosecute you for not being in control of a vehicle with the engine running.
 
The police could still prosecute you for not being in control of a vehicle with the engine running.
Years ago I had a mate who was persuaded to have a second and then third pint in the pub so instead of driving bedded down in the back of his car for the night. Nicked and a years ban for d & d even though that was the one thing he was avoiding doing, the engine wasn’t running and he was on the back seat asleep. Tbf he totally accepted the ruling.
 
The Auto Stop/Start is a good thing if it's fitted.
I would have to bite my lip if somebody banged on my car roof and did that to me, because I know they are probably right. But now, as Bear 66 has so helpfully pointed out the law, I will remind myself to switch the engine off.
 
The wording is "Driving offences can only be enforced on those using a vehicle on public roads. The Road Traffic Regulations Act defines a road as “any length of highway or other road to which the public has access.”"

So car parks and drive-thrus are considered as roads where the public has access. Your driveway isn't.
Car park
Off the public The wording is "Driving offences can only be enforced on those using a vehicle on public roads. The Road Traffic Regulations Act defines a n troad as “any length of highway or other road to which the public has access.”"

So car parks and drive-thrus are considered as roads where the public has access. Your driveway isn't.
RAC says different, I’ll go with their version. Carparks aren’t highways or public roads. McDonald drive ins are off the highway. Police have no authority .
 
was at the petrol station yesterday and the guy behind me filled his car up with the engine running
 
Car park

RAC says different, I’ll go with their version. Carparks aren’t highways or public roads. McDonald drive ins are off the highway. Police have no authority .
It's nothing to do with whether it's a public highway; the act talks of a road where the public has access.

Ask the police

Official police advice

Using a mobile phone /smart watch to scan
Potentially there could be legal issues with using a smart watch/phone to scan/pay for goods services whilst driving e.g. at a take away food retailer or car park, but it would be a matter for a court to decide. To avoid any problems, we would suggest that if you wish to pay in this way you stop, turn the engine off and get out of the vehicle to scan your watch/phone.


Also came across :

Can I use Apple Pay at drive through restaurants and café’s?
A clever question that we’ll admit we didn’t think of but it has been answered and could catch you out if unaware…


The question was asked to the Greater Manchester Police by a guy on Twitter who replied saying “If your engine is off and your handbrake applied and you’re parked yes. If your engine is on NO.”
 
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Some people on here could literally argue about anything. YOU DON'T ALWAYS HAVE TO PROVE YOU'RE RIGHT!
🤣

Though if anyone disagrees with this I will respond...
 
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