With so much going on in the world, a major change to the rules of driving may have slipped you by. If you're heading out in your car for the first time in a few days, you need to know that a key change to the law has been made.
It came into force on Friday but not everyone will have been in their cars since then. The significant change closes a loophole that some drivers could exploit to avoid being fined or getting penalty points.
Below, we look at the key questions surrounding the new law with information from the Government.
What does the law now cover?
Motorists are now breaking the law if they use a handheld mobile phone behind the wheel for any use, including to take photos or videos, scroll through playlists or play games. The law came into force on Friday as the government closed a loophole previously exploited by dangerous drivers to escape conviction
What was the loophole that has been closed?
The law previously only applied to so-called ‘interactive communication’ such as making a call, as it was written before mobile phones could be used for more complicated tasks, such as taking videos. Previously those caught using their mobiles at the wheel have in some cases been able to escape conviction by claiming that they weren’t using them for interactive communication.
What can you do behind the wheel?
Drivers are able to make contactless payments, for example, at drive-throughs, so long as their vehicle is stationary. They can also still use a device ‘hands-free’ while driving if it’s secured in a cradle, allowing motorists to use their phone as a sat-nav.
They must, however, always take responsibility for their driving and can be charged with an offence if the police find them not to be in proper control of their vehicle.
What are the fines?
Anyone caught using their handheld device while driving could face a fine of up to £1,000 as well as 6 points on their licence or a full driving ban.
How is the message getting out there?
The government’s award-winning THINK! team is also today launching an £800,000 awareness campaign to remind drivers not to use a handheld phone at the wheel and of the penalties if choosing to ignore this new law.
Millions of young people will start seeing the adverts in the coming weeks, showing friends appearing in the back seat to intervene when the driver becomes tempted to use their phone behind the wheel.
The campaign will run across video on demand, online video, social media channels and radio in England and Wales until the end of April.
What does the AA think?
Edmund King AA president said: "The AA has long campaigned to make handheld mobile phone use while driving as socially unacceptable as drink driving and we warmly welcome the new law. This is a much-needed toughening of the rules to help make our roads safer.
"Those who believe they can still play with their phone because it’s in a cradle must think again – they leave themselves open to prosecution for either careless or dangerous driving. 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."
Why has the law been updated?
Updates to the law follow a public consultation that found 81 per cent of respondents supported proposals to make it easier for culprits to be prosecuted.
