[Closed] "Hands Free" Legisalation

The law is whether the phone

"is or must be held at some point during the course of making or receiving a call or performing any other interactive communication function"

so if it is set up to automatically answer, or the headphones have a button on the cord that allows you to answer, then its OK - if you have to pick up the phone and press a button on it, then its likely to be illegal.

On a practical note unless you have some sort of steering wheel controlled Bluetooth system then anything else is a bit of a faff and therefore not really that safe. I wouldn't like to use the free handsfree that came with my phone as you have to have it in your ear, you have to still handle the phone for some/quite a few functions. And it doesn't mute the stereo either.

I think the basic idea is that if you need to use your hands to either answer the call or continue the call then it is classified as not hands-free. Therefore the headphone/ mic combo can be classed as hands-free if auto-answer is enabled on the phone.

That being said, I don't even have that in my car. I just don't answer calls, or pull over if i need to call someone. Still distracting you even if using hands-free stuff. Up here though there are lots of people who go around in that sort of half-stroke position to try and disguise the fact they have the phone next to their ear when driving.
Sure someone will be along quoting guidelines...

Can't remember the exact wording or can be bothered finding any of the online info, but my employer, an NHS trust, supplied NHS phone users with an earbud system to mean that phone users could all comply with the law whilst on work time.

A pharmaceutical rep friend though tells me that her company has banned use of any handsfree devices whilst driving, let any calls roll through to voicemail.