New Phone Laws Behind the Wheel: What Every Driver Must Know
Phone Ban Tightens: The Current State of Play
Since 2003, using a hand-held phone while driving in Great Britain has been illegal. This includes making calls, sending messages, or browsing the internet. Offenders face a £200 fine and six penalty points – enough to lose your licence after a second offence. New drivers risk losing their licence after just one slip-up. Northern Ireland has a similar crackdown.
Why the Law Needs an Update
Phones aren’t just for calls anymore. They’re now mini entertainment hubs, cameras, and info centres. The Government admits the old law is out of date, covering only ‘interactive communication’. It misses several other distracting phone uses like scrolling through apps or watching videos.
The need for change was highlighted by a 2019 legal case. A driver filming an accident without using their phone for a call or message was found not guilty because the law didn’t cover that usage. The Government stepped in, declaring “all use of a hand-held phone while driving is reckless and dangerous.”
Deadly Distractions: The Stats Speak
- In 2020, 17 people died, 114 were seriously hurt, and 385 suffered minor injuries in crashes linked to phone use behind the wheel.
- Over 80% of public feedback supported extending the ban to all hand-held phone uses while driving.
The New Rules: What’s Changing?
From now on, holding and using a device while driving is banned, no matter why you’re using it. The offence covers:
- Turning on or illuminating the screen
- Checking the time or notifications
- Unlocking the device
- Making, receiving, or rejecting calls or internet-based communications
- Sending or receiving texts, photos, videos, or other content
- Using the camera, video, or recording sound
- Accessing apps, stored data, or the internet
This includes phones on flight mode or with interactive features turned off.
Some Exceptions to Keep Your Head Clear
Emergencies remain an exception. A new one allows drivers to use phones for contactless payments while stationary – ideal for paying at parking meters or drive-throughs. Navigation apps stay legal too, but only if the phone’s in a cradle, not in your hand.
The Government will update official guidance and the Highway Code to clarify these rules and avoid confusion over hand-held vs hands-free use.
Mixed Reactions: Safety First but Watch the Enforcement
The RAC has “strongly welcomed” the new laws, urging proper enforcement. The Transport Research Laboratory agrees but warns the focus should widen beyond just hand-held devices, highlighting that even hands-free tech can distract drivers.
Bottom line: If you’re caught fiddling with your phone behind the wheel, even for something as quick as checking the time or taking a snap, you’re now breaking the law.
