Apple and/or Smart Watches which use the apple watch bands series 5 has become increasingly popular in conjunction with the rise of the technological era. Learning the Road Rules does not mean that the use of smart watches prohibits it during driving. Yet, it is a fact that the use of smart phone is strictly prohibited and there’s no legal person who is not restricted for its use?
Rule 300(1) of Using Smart Watches in Driving
This rule implies that the smart phone utilization while driving is prohibited unless:
- The smart phone is placed securely in a fixed mounting position.
- The driver does not hold the phone and using it while driving does not need touching anything on the parts of the phone.
Smart watches are really different due to the reason that they are not categorized as mobile phone. Meanwhile, the utilization of smart phone does not require manipulation of any parts of the phone.
Definition of smart watches
Based on the Rule 300(4), it does not give a clear definition of a mobile phone to link to it as a smart watch. Moreover, how smart watches really work is by assisting in the mobile phones’ operation. In addition, smart watches also have features that are completely independent on the mobile phones. These include the GPS map, heart rate monitor, and time which all operate fully without connecting to a phone.
Utilization of a smart watch through your mobile phone is allowed as it is not really a mobile phone. And the word “USE” in the Road Rules has a definition of any action that runs any of the phone’s function. But it is actually legal to do a call function, either to make or to receive it, in case the phone is mounted. On the other hand, this is also legal if the driver do not do any action to manipulate the phone.
Unit for Visual Display
Another concern for a smart watch is its classification being a visual display unit. The Rule 299 defines those screen images and not the messages or emails. This does not mean that smart watch utilization while driving is a good one. Yet, the best guide is to be aware of the laws of the road and to not use the smart watch most of your driving time.