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Manchester Evening News
Manchester Evening News
National
Rachel Pugh & Richard Blackledge

Highway Code rule changes mean drivers could risk £200 fines at drive-thrus and in traffic jams

All drivers in the UK have been warned they face £200 fines when using drive-thrus if they're not careful..

It will come as a surprise to many, to hear that you could be fined while visiting a drive-thru.

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Many motorists enjoy going to outlets such as KFC, McDonalds and Costa to get a drive-thru.

But, at the moment, drivers could receive a £200 fine or six points for using their phones while behind the wheel, including when at a drive-thru.

Motorists in traffic jams or sat in queues at the drive-thrus could receive a fine and be subject to tougher rules in the future if they decide to use their phone while waiting.

And MyLondon reports that on top of this, tougher mobile phone laws are set to be brought in next month.

On March 25, tougher laws are set to be brought in to cover things like unlocking your device and accessing any application on your phone.

The current law bans drivers from making a call and texting while driving but the changes on March 25 will cover most scenarios including accessing the internet or taking photos. However, the AA has said drivers will be able to use their phones to make contactless payments at drive-thrus.

On the tougher rules being brought in next month, Edmund King, AA president, said: “The AA has long campaigned to toughen up these rules, and we welcome this announcement. This is a much needed upgrade of the law to help make our roads safer. Mobile phones offer many distractions and this sends a clear message that picking them up to use them will not be tolerated.

"The law will also become tougher as the use of smartwatches, tablets and laptops behind the wheel will apply. Drivers will be extremely limited on when they can pick up their phone, mainly to call the emergency services when there was no opportunity to safely pull over and to make contactless payments at drive-thrus.

"Being sat in a traffic jam or waiting at the lights is not an excuse, we want people to keep their hands on the wheel and their eyes on the road."

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