Tougher rules for drivers using mobile phones from today
Opening an app or illuminating the screen while you're driving will get you in trouble
Last updated 25th Mar 2022
From Friday 25th March, UK drivers are facing tougher rules around using mobile phones while driving.
New legislation means you should avoid handling devices while in control of a vehicle.
The law change, which took effect at midnight, will result in an immediate fine and six-point penalty point on your licence.
What has changed?
Taking photos or videos, scrolling through playlists and playing games will all be prohibited, even if stopped in traffic or queuing at lights.
The legislation also covers illuminating the screen, checking the time, checking notifications, unlocking the device, making, receiving, or rejecting a telephone or internet-based call, sending, receiving or uploading a photo or video, utilising camera, video, or sound recording, or drafting any text.
In addition, accessing any stored data such as documents, books, audio files, photos, videos, films, playlists, notes or messages, accessing an app or accessing the internet are prohibited.
Anyone caught using their hand-held devices while driving could face a fine of up to £1000 as well as six points on their licence.
The transport secretary said there were only a couple of exceptions, which include using phones as a sat-nav when in a holder and making contactless payments at a drive-thru.
'Zero-tolerance approach'
Department for Transport figures show 17 people were killed and a further 114 were seriously injured in crashes on Britain's roads in which a driver using a mobile was a contributory factor.
The Transport Secretary, Grant Shapps, said: "I will do everything in my power to keep road users safe, which is why I am taking a zero-tolerance approach to those who decide to risk lives by using their phone behind the wheel.
"I'm ensuring anyone who chooses to break this vital law can face punishment for doing so, and we'll continue our efforts to ensure our roads remain among the safest in the world."
AA president Edmund King said: "This is a much-needed toughening of the rules to help make our roads safer.
"The best thing to do is to convert your glovebox into a phone box. We all need to keep our hands on the wheel and our eyes on the road."
An £800,000 Think! awareness campaign will run until the end of April.
'Enforcement needed'
An RAC survey of 2,000 UK drivers conducted last week indicated that 43% of motorists are not aware of the changes being introduced, and 45% believe they will not be effective.
RAC spokesperson Rod Dennis: "The dial really needs to be turned up when it comes to enforcement, and that means police forces having the resources and technology they need to more easily catch those drivers that continue to flout the law.
"Cameras that can automatically detect handheld phone use exist and are in use in other countries, so we think it's high time the UK Government evaluated this technology with a view to allowing police forces to deploy it at the earliest opportunity.
"It's clear that most drivers are supportive of the law being strengthened to make it easier to prosecute drivers who put lives at risk by using a handheld phone".
Mr Dennis did, however, caution that the new law must be enforced to change behaviour.
He added: "If some drivers still don’t feel they’re likely to be caught, then simply making the law tougher isn’t going to have the desired effect of making our roads safer.
"That explains why such a tiny proportion of drivers – just 2% - think the new changes will be very effective in changing behaviour".
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