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Daily Mirror
Daily Mirror
National
Chris Harper

Motorists using drive-thrus face being fined under tough new Highway Code rules

Drivers should be aware of the rules when ordering food from a drive-thru or they could face a massive fine and six points on their licence.

The Highway Code recently changed rules that motorists should know.

At the end of January, most Highway Code rules were updates including the hierarchy of the road.

It saw pedestrians and cyclists get more protections when out and about.

Many motorists enjoy going to KFC, McDonalds and Costa to get a drive-thru but they could be breaking the law and could get a big fine.

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

Paying with your phone could be a bad idea (Getty Images/iStockphoto)

According to MyLondon, that lean into the window at McDonalds, with phone in hand, could mean you are breaking this rule.

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. This could mean drivers in drive-thrus could be subject to tougher rules in the future.

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

A customer receives his food in a McDonald's drive-thru (Getty Images)

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.

Contactless could get drivers in trouble (Getty Images)

"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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