Something I've been after for a while. Driving my landrover whilst having a cw qso with my left hand. US5XD on 20m.

It was quite safe and I operated no internet device or phone whilst driving. All telegraphy.

I probably won't do it again because left handed cw is, well, left handed ha ha. But I've ticked that box

D

Good to hear that you've done it. It's something I've always considered.

I've even got a Clansman key with it's leg strap and a PRC320 to go with it.

Trouble is it takes me 100% concentration to read CW and I don't think at present I would be able to drive and read CW at the same time.

Regards,

Chris, G4HYG

I'd have loved to see you explaining why it was legal to the plod. They don't seem to have as much between the ears as they used to.

I've only done it from the passenger seat on 80m, chatting to a station that we were on the way to visit.

What would he have accused me of doing wrong?

Well, they usually go for the catch-all 'Not being in proper control of the vehicle' that they use for people eating pork pies etc.

But they have to prove it, usually with dashcam evidence. The vehicle actually has to be 'not under proper control', but I imagine that yours was, as sending morse is a 'knack' and not rocket science.

"driving without due care and attention" sounds a good one.

"CULPABILITY demonstrated by one or more of the following:
Factors indicating higher culpability
Excessive speed or aggressive driving
Carrying out other tasks while driving
Vehicle used for the carriage of heavy goods or for the carriage of passengers for reward
Tiredness or driving whilst unwell
Driving contrary to medical advice (including written advice from the drug manufacturer not to drive when taking any medicine)"

What do you reckon?

Very difficult to prove. They couldn't see my key and I'd obviously lie...

Anyway,all a tad academic of course as anyone of us who has used a fist mic knows. Unwrapping my sandwich whilst holding my coffee whilst steering with my knees whilst eyeing up some.girl....now that's distracting.

If they spend £10 000 for a helicopter to follow a woman eating an apple, they'd probably use an F35 to catch you using a key.
Must be worth more than an apple.

The whole mobile phone thing is skewed any way, it's not the holding of the phone that is a distraction, it's the speaking on it.

But officer, I was keying with my "other appendage".

-- -.-- / -.. .. -.-. -.-

This whole area is full of inconsistencies.

It always seemed strange to me that using a PTT was acceptable, but using a mobile phone wasn't.

Sat in a traffic jam (with the engine running) plod has been known to book people for drinking out of a bottle. I gather that if you pull over to the side to answer a phonecall you need to turn the engine off to avoid breaking the law.

Most new cars don't have buttons on the dashboard any more, they have an arcade game.

While driving along I can reach out (without looking) and find my way around my 'old fashioned' dashboard to get to the button I want.

With a touch-screen I'd have to look down & then try to remember which of the icons I need to press.


"...the carriage of passengers for reward..."
So, if you hook up with a gal at a club & drive her home in the hope of some nooky..... :-)