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Tougher penalties on using a hand held mobile phone whilst driving was brought into place earlier this year but it seems that thousands of drivers are either not aware or are disregarding these new laws.
Drivers seen holding their mobile phones whilst driving will automatically be given a £200 fine and will be handed six penalty points, as opposed to the former £100 fine and the 3 points given.
For new drivers, who have only passed their test within the last two years, the new penalties will result in them losing their drivers licence, having accrued six penalty points.
What many people don’t realise is that this law also applies to drivers when they are sitting in stationary traffic too, therefore you could receive a drivers penalty, simply by adjusting your sat nav route sitting in traffic or waiting at a traffic jam.
Many drivers are instead opting for a hands-free device to traverse their route, which according to the AA is deemed as an ‘acceptable’ method of using a sat nav. However, even if you do opt for a hands-free sat nav, but are deemed as ‘not being in proper control’ of your vehicle, then you could still be liable to accruing a penalty of 3 points and a £100 fine.
If the temptation to tinker with your phone is too much, we would recommend that you lock it in the glove compartment, so that it is out of reach. If you do need to use your phone as a sat nav, then you should ensure that the journey is fully set up (as a hands-free sat nav) before you set off for your destination. If you do need to tweak your journey at any point, resist the temptation to adjust it whilst on the move and instead, look to pull over in an area that is safe to do so.
When pulling over to operate your sat nav, make sure that you are fully parked up and the car’s engine if off to avoid any risk of incurred penalties.
If you are using your mobile phone as a hands-free sat nav, ensure that it is displayed where you can see it easily and that the volume is high enough for you to hear the instructions whilst driving. Do be mindful about where you place your handset within the car, as this can count against you. Drivers are required to keep their windscreens clear, under the highway code, so you might want to consider opting for a mobile phone holder that attaches to the air vents of your vehicle.
If in doubt, it is best to shut your mobile phone away, to avoid the tougher penalties of being caught using your mobile phone behind the wheel.
Reference: The Mirror
