Good story CK
The thing is that whatever the rights and wrongs of it all, shouldn't we expect some consistency from the law? Let's face it, we've all eaten a sandwich/choccy bar/sausage roll or whatever at the wheel. I think that since everybody has done this type of thing without ever feeling out of control that the police would inevitably have almost zero public sympathy nicking people for it.
Mobile phones and turning round to deal with kids are a different matter, but....
A few years ago, about this time of year, I was on the last stretch of my commute home from Bracknell (thank God I work from home nowadays). I was on the M1 going north near Hemel Hempstead and I was in the middle lane, following the flow of traffic, but still going too fast. I was only doing 40mph, but the Friday night traffic was very heavy and what made it so grim was the sort of rain and spray where your wipers are on warp speed but still don't clear the screen. And it was about 7:30 pm so it was dark.
Two things drew my attention to the Rover 75 in the outside lane. First, it passed slowly but so closely that it actually flicked my offside mirror. Second, the interior light was on, which, as we all know decreases your visibility even further. I looked across at the driver (looked a bit like that bloke who narrates 'Grumpy Old Men') and he had a book propped up on the wheel. This wasn't a quick glance at a map book or something, he had a paperback novel on there and was engrossed in reading it. I blasted the old airhorns at him and he lazily looked across. I gave him the international sign for 'you're a nutter mate' and he flicked me the V's
I was so mad that I followed him all the way up the motorway (he was reading all the way). I'd memorised his numberplate and as we passed Toddington services I pulled in to report it to the Motorway patrol office there. Gave them the reg number and this guy's unbelievable behaviour and their response? "Your word against his mate, can't do nuffink".