HANDS OFF
Drivers face £200 fine if caught even TOUCHING their phone at the wheel
MOTORISTS face a £200 fine if they are caught even TOUCHING their phones behind the wheel.
Currently a loophole in legislation allows drivers to escape any punishment for using their phone while driving if they are taking a photo, playing a game or scrolling through music.
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But The Department of Transport is now working with Ministers on updating laws so that all phone functions are banned behind the wheel.
The only exceptions to this new law would be when drivers use their mobiles for contactless payments if a vehicle is stationary at a drive-thru takeaway.
It is thought that the legislation will be rolled out early next year, and hands-free video calls and streaming videos are already banned.
Offenders who are caught touching the hand held devices will be hit with six points and a £200 fine.
Ministers have rejected calls to go further by banning the use of hands-free functions - drivers will still be able to continue safely using devices "hands-free" while driving, such as a sat-nav secured in a cradle.
Roads Minister Baroness Vere said: "Our roads are some of the safest in the world, but we want to make sure they're safer still by bringing the law into the 21st century.
This update will mean those doing the wrong thing will face the full force of the law.
Baroness Vere
"That's why we're looking to strengthen the law to make using a hand-held phone while driving illegal in a wider range of circumstances.
"It's distracting and dangerous, and for too long risky drivers have been able to escape punishment, but this update will mean those doing the wrong thing will face the full force of the law."
The change in law would apply across Britain and is expected to come into effect early next year, pending the outcome of the consultation.
In 2019, there were 637 casualties on Britain's roads - including 18 deaths and 135 serious injuries - in crashes where a driver using a mobile was a contributory factor.
The punishment for drivers caught breaking the rules on hand-held mobile use are six penalty points and a £200 fine.
The University of Leeds was commissioned by the DfT to analyse mobile use by 52 drivers over a total of 765 journeys.
Some 662 phone interactions were observed, of which only 38 were completely hands-free.
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National Police Chiefs' Council lead for Roads Policing, Chief Constable Anthony Bangham, said: "Using a mobile phone while driving is incredibly dangerous and being distracted at the wheel can change lives forever.
"Police will take robust action against those using a hand-held mobile phone illegally and proposals to make the law clearer are welcome."
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