“The consequences of using a mobile phone while at the wheel can be catastrophic” – that is the message from Hampshire Constabulary and Thames Valley Police’s joint operations Roads Policing Unit as new law changes come into effect from today (Friday).
The change sees the law expanded and mean you can receive an immediate fine of £200 and penalty points on your licence for the following offences while driving:
- Illuminating the screen
- Checking the time on your phone
- 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
- Drafting any text
- Accessing any stored data such as documents, books, audio files, photos, videos, films, playlists, notes or messages
- Accessing an app
- Accessing the internet
There are just 2 exemptions to the law, allowing for a call to be made in an emergency where is it not practical to stop, and for contactless payment for a service provided at the time – for example, road tolls or drive-thrus – but the vehicle must be stationary.
Sergeant Dave Hazlett, of the Road Safety Unit, said:
“Data shows you are four times more likely to be involved in a collision if you use a mobile phone while driving.
“The consequences of using a mobile phone at the wheel can be catastrophic, and you are placing not only yourself but other road users at significant risk.
“While the large majority of motorists will already avoid using their phone in these circumstances, this is an important change and one all road users should take note of.
“This change to the legislation closes several loopholes, and is an important step forward for road safety.”
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Soooo……Google maps? Is rhat an ‘app?’
I agree, how does that work?
I use maps for my work as a delivery driver and it doesn’t make it very clear how I can do this and stay within the law.
Dedicated sat navs are not illegal – as long as you re only using you phone as a sat nav and its in a mount you are ok
I hope it’s the same for pedestrians, its there fault most of the time
So a car & pedestrian collide both looking at their phones and it’s the pedestrians fault? I hope you don’t drive.
Both in my opinion if they are both using at the time.
Well said
retarded comment
So what. There is never any enforcement over here so the usual law breakers will just continue regardless
Totally agree. It is not more laws that are needed, it is enforcement of the laws that are already in place. There is practically no enforcement on the island, and the police drivers are as bad, if not worse, than all the others despite their supposed high level of training. On top of that are useless magistrates who do not punish the few offenders who are caught anything like adequately. And so it will remain…
About time too. The accident rate on the island is bad enough just with motorists who can’t drive. Add a mobile phone into the mix and OMG. 100% concentration on the road please, the mobile phones can wait until your journey is over. I think a driving ban is more appropriate and a £200 fine is not enough given that a car crash can take away an innocent person’s life. Should be a £1000 fine to act as more of a deterrent. Not that any amount of money can bring back a person’s life.
From what I’m reading it may well be illegal now to use Google maps on the move, plus a screen mounted phone holder may be illegal too, although grille mounted seem ok. How confusing is all this!
It is not confusing at all. A phone must be attached to a mount. The mount itself can be attached anywhere on your vehicle. You must not touch your phone for any reason while you are driving your vehicle, all use of the phone, including using it for route guidance must be hands free. If you touch the phone while driving you are breaking the law. To touch the phone you have to pull over and stop, you cannot touch the phone while stationary in traffic, for example while waiting for traffic lights to change or a queue of traffic to move. Quite simple really.
The mount can be attached anywhere on your vehicle?
If so, then page 151 of the Highway Code 2022 must quite simply be wrong.
Obviously the mount and whatever is attached to it should not be positioned in such a way as to obscure your view of the road. But you can’t really legislate for stupidity.
You tend to use words like ‘simple’ and ‘stupidity’ in your answers to others as though you always believe you are right. Such self confidence tends to stifle discussion on forums, which I am sure is not your intention, is it?.
The issue over the clarity of the relevant statement in the Highway Code with respect to what constitutes obstruction of a driver’s vision by objects such as screen mounted mobile phone holders was specifically raised last year. It was discussed in the National press.
I have a question then – how does this differ to the display units that are built into many cars now – the SatNavs, touch screen music etc. I’ve been in cars where there’s nearly been an accident as the driver has been tapping at it for directions or music etc. Genuine question here, are they governed by the same law as they can be very distracting as can hands free phone calls. Perhaps that would fall under the ‘driving without due care and attention’ crime should there be an accident?
It doesn’t differ at all. Even touch screen displays built in to a car’s dashboard must only be used “hands free” when driving. If you see someone tapping the screen while driving they are breaking the law. Some of these units have voice control which can be used while driving.
Silly me, I thought that this was the law ages ago…., does not say anything about watching a film on a tablet/lap[top whilst driving ? Or reading a newspaper… maybe doing the crossword…
Obviously some cars are automatic…
Yes and what about that mr bean.
Watch the road.. see what is ahead of you, not just in front of you.. THINK of what is going on around your vehicle.. Further ahead you look and think, the sooner you are prepared, if looking at mobile screen, you may not see that person step out.. or that car pull out.. or that dog run out… or yet another pot hole…
Here’s an idea, get caught using a phone, police take the phone from you, put it under your front wheel and send you on your way.