Everything you need to know about emergency alert that will OVERRIDE your phone in days – what to do if you’re driving
BRITS will be sent an emergency alert which will override your phone in the coming days - here's what to do if you're driving.
A siren and message are due to go out at 3pm on St George's Day, April 23, with people’s phones locked until they acknowledge the warning.
It will give a sound and vibration for 10 seconds - even if you set your device to silent.
iPhone and Android users using 4G and 5G will have to acknowledge the alert before they can continue using their devices.
The full message will read: "This is a test of Emergency Alerts, a new UK government service that will warn you if there's a life-threatening emergency nearby.
"In a real emergency, follow the instructions in the alert to keep yourself and others safe."
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"Visit gov.uk/alerts for more information.
"This is a test. You do not need to take any action."
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Phone users have to swipe away the message or click OK before they can use their device again.
You can opt out of the test by turning off emergency alerts or just switching off your phone.
Drivers are being urged not to pick up their phones if the emergency alert goes off while they're on the road.
Touching your phone while driving could see you slapped with a £200 fine and six points on your licence.
The Highway Code states that using a phone while driving is in breach of rule 149, and could even result in the driver being taken to court.
This rule applies to using your device at traffic lights, in traffic, and instructing a learner driver.
To escape legal trouble, drivers are urged to stop the car before acknowledging the message.
Alternatively, other passengers in the vehicle are allowed to clear the notification on your behalf.
The emergency alert is modelled on systems currently in Japan, Canada, the Netherlands and the US.
It has been set up to warn people if there is a “danger to life” situation like a flood or wildfire nearby, as well as potential terror incidents and civil defence emergencies.
Government minister Oliver Dowden said: "At 3pm next Sunday we’ll be doing a nationwide test of our new Emergency Alerts system.
Getting this system operational means we have a vital tool to keep the public safe in life-threatening emergencies.
"It could be the sound that saves your life."
But domestic abuse campaigners have slammed the test, which they say could expose the location of victims' hidden phones.
The alarm go off during the London Marathon and the Premier League games Bournemouth vs West Ham and Newcastle vs Tottenham.
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Chief Fire Officer Alex Woodman said: "We must use every tool at our disposal to keep people safe, and we need everyone to play their part, and the new Emergency Alerts system is one way we can do this.
"For 10 seconds, the national test may be inconvenient for some, but it’s important, because the next time you hear it, your life, and the life-saving actions of our emergency services, could depend on it."