It is a sad day indeed! If your car has been fitted with an aftermarket accessory with an LCD display for the reception or transmission of broadcast services audio, visual, data or a mixture of all of these (so it includes sat nav, speed camera detectors and the car radio etc....) it will be illegal to use it unless you have a remote control or voice activation.
The EU have ratified legislation based on the assumption that 20% of accidents are caused by drivers looking at, or pressing buttons on aftermarket equipment. It is beyond me why they have specified aftermarket because most factory fit radios do not have remote controls. There is a petition available online against this on the No10 website which will not get anywhere as we have already signed and agreed this law. It is not clear if radios/sat nav will have to be removed or just switched off. Penalties will be applied as they currently are for using a mobile phone in the car.
The EU have ratified legislation based on the assumption that 20% of accidents are caused by drivers looking at, or pressing buttons on aftermarket equipment. It is beyond me why they have specified aftermarket because most factory fit radios do not have remote controls. There is a petition available online against this on the No10 website which will not get anywhere as we have already signed and agreed this law. It is not clear if radios/sat nav will have to be removed or just switched off. Penalties will be applied as they currently are for using a mobile phone in the car.