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Daily Record
Daily Record
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James Andrews & Olivia Baron & Serena Richards & Lucy Farrell

McDonald's drive-thru customers risk £1,000 fine and six points for breaking driving law

Picking up a McDonald's drive-thru meal is a treat as a hot takeaway is placed in your hands without having to leave the comforts of your car.

But the fast food giant's new app - which makes ordering even easier - could land you in legal trouble on your next trip. Drivers are being warned that those who use McDonald's app could be hit with a £1,000 fine and six licence points.

While ordering from the drive-through is pretty straightforward, customers can now purchase food on their phones through the app as they wait in the queue. While this might make for an even more streamlined service, it could also breach Highway Code rules for using a handset behind the wheel.

With regards to using phones while driving, the RAC guide to mobile online law states: "If your engine is running, your phone should be nowhere near your hands. This is still the case if the engine stops automatically to save fuel (called 'start-stop technology).

"As to whether you're safe on private land - any road the public has free access to is covered by the laws."

You can get a full meal without having to leave your vehicle (Brandon Bell/Getty Images)

The penalty for being caught using a handheld device while driving is six penalty points and a £200 fine, which means you'll automatically lose your licence if you passed your driving test within the last two years.

While you may think this doesn't apply when off the main road, it is important to note that these rules still apply while on private property.

RAC spokesperson Rod Dennis told the Mirror : "Every driver should always ensure they are parked and have their engine switched off before using a handheld phone – anything else could land them in trouble, even if they are in a car park, drive-thru or petrol forecourt."

You could also be taken to court by the police if they think yours is an extreme case where you can be banned from driving and receive a maximum fine of £1,000 - rising to £2,500 if you're driving a lorry or bus. Deciding whether it is or is not an extreme case is down to the authorities.

Even though it is incredibly unlikely for the police to stake out car parks and drive-thrus, it doesn't mean there's no risk. So far police have been present at the Lancashire McDonald's site to help manage the volume of traffic.

And a passing patrol is well within its rights to fine you and add points to your licence if they see you.

What's worse is if there's an accident and, for instance, the person behind you in the queue bumps into you and the CCTV is looked at, you're definitely in trouble.

To avoid this, make sure you don't order or pay by phone when queueing for a drive-thru - or get a passenger to do it for you.

If you only discover you've left your wallet at home after you've collected the food, and need to use your phone to pay, it might be OK if you make sure you pull to the side and turn off your engine.

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