A technical loophole used by motorists to escape punishment if they are caught driving while using a mobile phone has now been closed. The new legislation now states that virtually any use of a mobile phone while in control of a vehicle is now banned under a “zero-tolerance approach” from Transport Secretary Grant Shapps.
Taking photos or videos, scrolling through playlists and playing games are also now prohibited under the new laws in addition to making phone calls and text messaging. Those caught breaking the new mobile phone driving rules face a fine of up to £1,000 and up to six points on their licence.
Contactless payments are still permitted at places like drive-thru restaurants if the vehicle is stationary, or as a sat-nav if the device is in the correct mode and mounted in a secure cradle.
Figures from the Department for Transport showed that 17 people were killed on Britain’s roads last year with another 114 injured where a contributory factor was the driver being distracted by their phone.
“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,” said Mr Shapps.
Edmund King, president of the AA, said: “This is a much-needed toughening of the rules to help make our roads safer. The best thing to do is to convert your glovebox into a phone box. We all need to keep our hands on the wheel and our eyes on the road.”
A survey of 2,000 UK drivers conducted by the RAC found that 43% of drivers are unaware of the changes to the law while 45% don’t believe they will be effective.
The RAC’s Rod Dennis said: “The dial really needs to be turned up when it comes to enforcement, and that means police forces having the resources and technology they need to more easily catch those drivers that continue to flout the law. Cameras that can automatically detect handheld phone use exist and are in use in other countries, so we think it’s high time the UK Government evaluated this technology with a view to allowing police forces to deploy it at the earliest opportunity.”
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