Drivers across the UK could land themselves in trouble by doing one simple thing many people might not realise is illegal. Tough new laws will come into force from March 25 as part of a crackdown on motorists using a mobile phone behind the wheel.
Existing laws already make it illegal to text or call while behind the wheel, unless there is an emergency. But the Department for Transport has announced that it wanted to make it easier for drivers who use their phones on the road to be prosecuted.
The new laws have been brought in to match an update to the Highway Code, which counts being behind the wheel when the car is stationary as driving including while in traffic apart from very limited circumstances. Motorists found breaking the new rules could be hit with a fine or even be banned from the road.
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Under the new rules, the use of a mobile phone to scroll through songs or play a game in traffic jams and red lights is now illegal. It will also be illegal to take photos or record videos while behind the wheel, even if the car is still stationary. If you're confused about what you will and won't be fined for while driving, you can find all the answers here.
The use of satnav and hands-free calls will continue to be allowed while behind the wheel, on one condition. In order to avoid falling foul of the new laws, these activities must remain hands-free, with picking up your phone to use Satnav now an offence. To ensure this, drivers are being encouraged to secure their device in a cradle or stand in the car.
Motorists found to be in breach of the new Satnav rule could be handed a whopping £200 fixed penalty notice. The sum will also come with a huge six-point tariff, which could put many people's licences at risk of being banned. On top of this, if a driver is found to not be in proper control of their vehicle they could face prosecution.
The new laws on mobile phones come after a public consultation found 81% of people supported the change. AA president Edmund King was one of those who supported the move, adding: "By making mobile phone use as socially unacceptable as drink-driving, we are taking big steps to make our roads safer."
In 2020, 17 people were killed on Britain’s roads in crashes involving drivers distracted by mobile phones, according to Department for Transport figures. A further 114 people were seriously injured in such collisions, while nearly 400 people suffered less serious injuries.
Speaking last year about the new laws ahead of their introduction, transport secretary Grant Shapps said: "By making it easier to prosecute people illegally using their phone at the wheel, we are ensuring the law is brought into the 21st Century while further protecting all road users."
The move was also backed by the RAC, whose road safety spokesperson Simon Williams said: “As our phones have become more sophisticated, the law has not kept pace and this has allowed some drivers who have been using their handheld phones for purposes other than communicating to exploit a loophole and avoid the maximum penalty. While today’s announcement is clearly good news, it’s absolutely vital that the new law is vigorously enforced, otherwise there’s a risk that it won’t deliver the sort of behaviour change that will make our roads safer.”
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