There are some exceptions to the law whereby you can use your mobile phone while driving without getting into trouble
A quick check of texts at a red light, adjusting your phone’s sat nav or even changing songs. These are all acts that are illegal in the highway code, but many can forget this.
The dangers and consequences of using a phone while driving are well-documented and should serve as a warning to discourage anyone from taking their chances on the road. Unfortunately, many drivers in the UK don’t heed the frequent warnings issued by road safety authorities.
According to figures published by the RAC last year, 15,300 drivers were prosecuted for using a handheld mobile phone in the UK in 2023. In the previous year, 22 people lost their lives, and 674 were injured in road traffic collisions where a driver using a mobile phone was identified as a contributing factor.
Further analysis from a 2022 government report shows that 4,188 injuries were recorded due to “distractions in vehicle,” where a mobile device may have played a role in the collision.
It is illegal to hold and use a phone, sat nav, tablet, or any handheld device that can send or receive data while driving a vehicle or riding a motorcycle. This law still applies if a driver is stopped at traffic lights, queuing in traffic, supervising a learner driver, or operating a car with a start/stop engine while not moving.
Drivers must never use a handheld device when behind the wheel, even if it is offline or in flight mode.
If a driver is caught engaging in any of these activities, they can receive up to 6 penalty points and a £200 fine. New drivers who have passed their test within the last two years risk losing their license.
Additionally, drivers can incur an extra three penalty points if they fail to maintain a full view of the road and traffic ahead or do not have proper control of the vehicle while using a handheld device.
Offenders may be taken to court, where they could face a driving ban and a maximum fine of £1,000, or up to £2,500 for lorry or bus drivers.
The Highway Code provides only four exceptions to the prohibition on using a phone while driving.
These are as follows:
- You need to call 999 or 112 in an emergency and it’s unsafe or impractical to stop
- You’re safely parked
- You’re making a contactless payment in a vehicle that is not moving, for example, at a drive-through restaurant
- You’re using the device to park your vehicle remotely
It is also legally permitted to use a device with hands-free access while driving, as long as you do not hold the device at any time during usage.
