Following a change to the law which came into effect on 25 March, it is illegal to use a hand-held mobile phone while driving under virtually any circumstance. In a move aimed at closing a legal loophole, a communications campaign in England and Wales is set to educate people about the changes, which followed public consultation that found 81% of people supported such action.
Motorists are now breaking the law if they use a hand-held mobile phone behind the wheel for any use, including to take photos or videos, scroll through playlists or play games, as the Government closes a loophole previously exploited by dangerous drivers to escape conviction. Anyone caught using their hand-held device while driving could face a fine of up to £1,000 as well as six points on their licence or a full driving ban.
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.”
Drivers are still able to make contactless payments, for example at drive-thrus, so long as their vehicle is stationary. They can also still use a device ‘hands-free’ while driving if it’s secured in a cradle, allowing motorists to use their phone as a sat-nav. They must, however, always take responsibility for their driving and can be charged with an offence if the police find them not to be in proper control of their vehicle.
The updates to the law follow a public consultation that found 81% of respondents supported such proposals to make it easier for culprits to be prosecuted. The law previously only applied to so-called ‘interactive communication’ such as making a call, as it was written before mobile phones could be used for more complicated tasks such as taking videos. Previously those caught using their mobiles at the wheel have in some cases been able to escape conviction through claiming that they weren’t using them for ‘interactive communication.’
