Ask Phoebe: Setting drivers straight on use of apps and iPods

Is it illegal if the phone, or say an iPod, is hand-held and being used to operate apps or the music library? Photo / Getty Images

Q. We all know we may not operate hand-held phones for answering or making calls, or texting, but is it illegal if the phone, or say an iPod, is hand-held and being used to operate apps or the music library, while the car is moving, or indeed stationary as it is for the greater percentage of the time in Auckland traffic?

Ray Bennett, Auckland.

Yes and yes.

Amendments to the Road User Rule 2004, clause 7.3A, make this clear.

"A driver must not, while driving a vehicle,

(a) use a mobile phone to make, receive, or terminate a telephone call; or
(b) use a mobile phone to create, send, or read a text message; or
(c) use a mobile phone to create, send, or read an email; or
(d) use a mobile phone to create, send, or view a video message; or
(e) use a mobile phone to communicate in a way similar to a way described in any of paragraphs (b) to (d); or (f) use a mobile phone in a way other than a way described in any of paragraphs (a) to (e)."

"A driver may, while driving a vehicle, use a mobile phone to make, receive, or terminate a telephone call if the phone does not require the driver to hold or manipulate it to make, receive, or terminate the call."

And finally, "A driver may, while driving a vehicle, use a mobile phone to make, receive, or terminate a telephone call if the vehicle has stopped for a reason other than the normal starting and stopping of vehicles in a flow of traffic."

Q. Further to your column of June 20, about buses parking in the bus lane in Quay St, I often see trucks parking there as well. Is this allowed as there are yellow lines all the way down the bus lane. Sometimes there can be as many as six trucks parked there which means other users of the bus lane have to merge back into the general traffic flow. If they aren't allowed to park in the bus lane, does Auckland Transport have a strategy for stopping them?

Andrew Parsons, Mission Bay

The yellow dotted lines in the Quay St bus lane mean no vehicles may park there. This includes buses and trucks, vans, cars or any other sort of vehicle. The only exception to this is when a Temporary Traffic Resolution is in force, for example for buses when there is an event at Vector Arena. Auckland Transport will be keeping an eye on transgressors.

• Ron Paterson, of Birkenhead, among others, remains confused about the difference between fog lights and running lights on a vehicle. I apologise for any contribution I may have made to this confusion. For a clear description of what is permitted or not permitted on a vehicle in New Zealand regarding lights, I refer readers to http://tinyurl.com/qzcmdvm