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Drivers will no longer be able to use their mobile phone under most circumstances while behind the wheel of a vehicle from tomorrow.
The UK Government announced changes to the rules over the use of mobile devices, which meant drivers were banned from making phone calls, text messages and accessing the internet.
It will now be widened to keep with technological advances made since the law came into force in 2003.
New rules mean that drivers will also no longer be allowed illuminate their screen, check the time, check notification, take pictures or access documents such a videos while behind the wheel of a car from Friday, March 25.
Anyone who falls foul of the rules will be given a minimum £200 fine and six points on their licence.
UK Transport Secretary Grant Shapps has said that the rule change will make it ‘easier’ for the authorities to prosecute those who are found to be using their mobile phone when behind the wheel.
Drivers will still be allowed to use their phone in emergency situations and continue using their device for navigation purposes, providing that it kept in a cadre and not in the drivers hand.
Mobile phones can also be used to make a contactless payment for goods and services – but the vehicle must remain stationary and the item being paid for must be provided at the same time or after the contactless payment is made.
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Examples of where this is allowed include paying for takeaways at a drive-through or paying for car parking services.
Changes to the rules were made due to a growing number of accidents on the roads involving someone using their mobile phone.
Department for Transport data found that in 2020, 17 people were killed, 114 people were seriously injured and 385 were slightly injured in road traffic accidents – with mobile phone use listed as the reason for the crash.
The move to widen the rules has been welcomed by RAC.
Simon Williams, road safety spokesperson at the motoring firm, said: “We strongly welcome the government’s strengthening of the law on handheld mobile phone use behind the wheel.
“As our phones have become more sophisticated, the law has not kept pace and this has allowed some drivers who have been using their handheld phones for purposes other than communicating to exploit a loophole and avoid the maximum penalty.
“Our research suggests that more than one in 10 younger drivers admit to taking a photo or video while driving, while 6% say they have played a game.
“While today’s announcement is clearly good news, it’s absolutely vital that the new law is vigorously enforced otherwise there’s a risk that it won’t deliver the sort of behaviour change that will make our roads safer.”
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