Sat Nav and the law in Europe

HI,

I have been reading conflicting opinion about this from all over. I cannot find a definitive statement about it though. SO:

What is the law re using satnav screen and audio in France and Spain? Is it just the speedcam mapping which is illegal? Do you really have to pull over to check the map - or what?

Any informed replies will be treasured

John

The law should be universal anywhere. apart from speed camera alerts where the UK is over populated with them.

Why do you need sat nav if you are looking at the screen, set it up before you leave and listen to the voice commands.

I read about a woman who had a sat nav to find her regular hair dresser

Sat Nav should not be used as a road atlas, you wouldnt read a map while driving would you?

It really does annoy me to see someone trying to press buttons on the screen while driving, its worse than using a mobile phone

Originally Posted by wheelnut

The law should be universal anywhere. apart from speed camera alerts where the UK is over populated with them.

Why do you need sat nav if you are looking at the screen, set it up before you leave and listen to the voice commands.

I read about a woman who had a sat nav to find her regular hair dresser

Sat Nav should not be used as a road atlas, you wouldnt read a map while driving would you?

It really does annoy me to see someone trying to press buttons on the screen while driving, its worse than using a mobile phone

You obviously didn't understand my post I was asking if anyone knew what the law was, and not for their opinion (informed or otherwise) as to whether or not they should be used.

Active detection devices are illegal in France - RADAR and I assume, LASER. Sat Nav and their camera alerts aren't, as far as I'm aware. One thing you can be pretty certain of in France; if there's a speed camera sign, there WILL be a camera, and quite soon. So, if you keep your eyes open, you shouldn't get nicked by a fixed camera. A cop with a handheld device, on the other hand...

Originally Posted by chazzyb

Active detection devices are illegal in France - RADAR and I assume, LASER. Sat Nav and their camera alerts aren't, as far as I'm aware. One thing you can be pretty certain of in France; if there's a speed camera sign, there WILL be a camera, and quite soon. So, if you keep your eyes open, you shouldn't get nicked by a fixed camera. A cop with a handheld device, on the other hand...

Thanks

[Stu]

Sat Nav is great for driving a car in fog - you get to see where the road goes before you see it in real life. you hardly have to slow down at all!




joking! obviously, I mean I did slow down... a bit

Originally Posted by ejohnh

HI,

I have been reading conflicting opinion about this from all over. I cannot find a definitive statement about it though. SO:

What is the law re using satnav screen and audio in France and Spain? Is it just the speedcam mapping which is illegal? Do you really have to pull over to check the map - or what?

Any informed replies will be treasured

John

satnav is not illegal in France although judging by the way millions drive along with their nose buried in it it wont be long before it is. However knowing how the french think, if the government did make it illegal they would still continue to use it and put up two fingers to the govenment , as they have done with radar detectors.

Originally Posted by nigel

satnav is not illegal in France although judging by the way millions drive along with their nose buried in it it wont be long before it is. However knowing how the french think, if the government did make it illegal they would still continue to use it and put up two fingers to the govenment , as they have done with radar detectors.

Thanks Nigel.