Hand Held Mobile Phones And Driving - Do You Know The Law?

Most of us think we know the rules about driving with a hand-held mobile phone, but do we?

Recent high-profile prosecutions – several of which led to driving bans – suggest that some motorists might be unaware of the law or have become complacent.

Driving while using your phone is illegal. Nobody would argue that it’s a potentially very dangerous practice which can result in fatalities. The Department for Transport’s most recent figures show that 33 people died on Britain’s roads in 2017 as a direct result of drivers being distracted by their mobiles.

Backed by motoring organisations concerned about the number of drivers acting unlawfully, the UK government introduced tougher penalties in 2017. It wants to see using a hand-held device at the wheel become as socially unacceptable as drink driving.  Fines have doubled from £100 to £200 and   the amount of penalty points has been increased from three to six.

Drivers who are caught using their mobile twice, or have notched up 12 points, face appearing in magistrates’ court, possibly losing their driving licence and fines of up to £1,000.

While we’ve all seen motorists flagrant disregard the law – using one hand to turn the steering wheel and the other to hold their mobile phone – be aware that even the most law-abiding drivers can fall foul of the legislation.

If, for instance, you’re stuck in heavy M1 traffic and you know you’re going to be late for an appointment, don’t think you can pick up your phone to ring ahead because your car is stationary.

The law states that you can only use your phone when your vehicle is safely parked – unless you need to make a 999 call and it’s not possible to park up safely. It is also illegal to use a hand-held device when supervising a learner driver.

Be careful too if you’re using your smart phone as a sat nav. Don’t pick it up to look at the mapping app as that’s illegal too. To stay safe and within the law, use a holder to attach your mobile safely to your windscreen.  Mounts to fit smart phones of all sizes are widely available online and from motoring accessories stores.

Sometimes it’s nice to digitally detox – and driving can present a perfect opportunity to do just that. Put away your phone in your bag or in your glove box and turn it to silent or switch it off so it doesn’t distract you.

If you do need to be contactable during your journey, pair up your phone to Bluetooth. Most modern cars now come with this connectivity feature as standard.  It is legal to take calls via a hands-free device, but it’s good driving practice to keep calls short and to the point. 

Remember that the person you’re talking to isn’t in the car with you so cannot see what you see. It’s not like talking to a passenger sitting beside you. Don’t let the call divert your attention from any road hazards. Many of us have come to rely on our mobile phones when running our daily lives, but there are times when we need to put them away.