A new law is tackling the risks of using your mobile phone at the wheel - with those who break it facing a hefty fine and six points on their licence.

Here’s what you need to know 👇

The dangers of using your phone at the wheel

It has been illegal to use your phone to call or text while driving since 2003 - so ignorance is no excuse!

Even if you don’t cause an accident while on the road, the use of mobile phones is still an offence.

In fact, 2022 alone saw 17 people tragically killed, 114 people seriously injured, and 385 slightly injured in road traffic accidents caused by drivers using mobile phones.

What is the new law?

This new law aims to close current loopholes around mobile phone usage behind the wheel.

As of 25 March, not only is it an offence to use your phone to call, text or use the internet, is is now illegal to use your phone for the following:

• Using your sat nav (unless it’s secured in a holder)
• Taking pictures and videos
• Playing video games
• Scrolling through music playlists
• Unlocking your phone, checking notifications or accessing apps while driving

To read the entire list of offences, please refer to the UK Government’s Statutory Instruments.

What are the penalties for breaking this law?

If you’re caught using your phone for any of the reasons above (even in stationary traffic), you could face a steep penalty.

If you get caught using your phone while driving, you could be faced with a fine of up to £1,000, which increases to £2,500 for bus and lorry drivers, and six points on your licence or a full driving ban.

You could even lose your licence entirely if you’re caught breaking this law twice. New drivers, who have held a drivers licence for less than two years will lose their licence after one offence.

Other new rules

There have been a number of new rules on the roads this year already so it’s important to make sure you’re keeping up to date.

One of the new rules impacts your car’s number plate. These rules are designed to improve durability and readability and ensure things like small collisions, dirt and weathering mean your number plate is still easy to identify. These rules came into effect in January 2022. You can read more about what this means for you over on our dedicated guide to the new number plate rules.

The other change is new rules in the Highway Code that not only affects drivers, but also cyclists and pedestrians. In fact, there were a total of eight new rules introduced, and 49 updates to the existing rules, so it’s important to ensure you’re abiding by these new measures. Read more on these changes and how they affect you here.

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