Drivers now caught handling their mobile phones behind the wheel will now faced being fined £200 and will received six points on their license from today. This new stricter change to the law ushered by the Government to keep road-users safe as the Transport Secretary Grant Shapps made this statement saying, “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.”
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
Before this change was put into place today, drivers could only be penalised for holding their phone whilst making ‘interactive communications’ which only outlawed making phone calls or sending text messages.
Does this new rule apply if you’re touching your phone that’s secured in a cradle or mount on windscreen or the dashboard of your car?
Drivers will be able to use their mobile phone device ‘hands-free’ whilst driving such as a sat-nav when it is secure in a cradle.
How can we help:
If unfortunately, you are being faced of possibly being fined and getting six points on your license, we at Parker Thomas have a team of fully trained and qualified solicitors and barristers, bringing together 50 years of experience. Our criminal team works alongside clients to be able to provide assistance in your matter as we pride ourselves on our optimum performance and always putting our clients’ needs first. If you would like to speak to a member of our team, please do not hesitate to get in touch with us today!
