As the line between watch and phone becomes increasingly blurred that brings with it a rather interesting conundrum – is it legal to operate an Apple Watch while driving?
Well good news for you gadget lovers, you may fiddle with your new toy without fearing the wrath of the law. From Fin24:
“Currently legislation does not make provision for such device and the use thereof does not constitute an offence as the device are not being used under (1)(a) [of Regulation 308A],” Kenneth Africa, Chief Directorate of Traffic Management in the Western Cape Department of Transport and Public Works told Fin24.
Not everyone is happy with that legal loophole, including Arrive Alive advocate Johan Jonck:
“We have too many reckless drivers on our roads to keep our attention away from driving defensively – we will plead with road users not to ‘use’ any of these devices while driving – whether it is to communicate or whether it is to do anything else such as browsing the internet,” he said.
At least one expert, specialist technology attorney Russel Luck, believes the law needs to adapt for the safety of road users:
“Smartwatches are more troubling from a legal perspective…
They pair with the user’s mobile phone and provide communication features like e-mail and text messaging. In order to use these features drivers would have to take their eyes off the road and use at least one hand to operate their smartwatch,” Luck [said].
Maybe let’s just show some consideration for fellow road users and not use our smart devices (watch, mobile or otherwise) while sitting behind the wheel, chances are it’s only another bloody work email anyway.
If you are in the market for an Apple Watch and want the best deal in town head HERE (from as little as R306 per month)…then be lekker and arrive alive.
[source:fin24]
