Over a million UK motorists may be unaware that they risk having their licences revoked for a surprisingly common behaviour. A momentary action, lasting just a second or two, could lead to severe penalties.
Penalties for Phone Use While Driving
Penalty points, along with other sanctions, can be handed out to drivers found to have violated certain laws and driving rules. For example, you can receive six penalty points and a £200 fine if you are caught using or holding a phone, sat nav, tablet, or any device capable of sending and receiving data while driving — even if you only do so for a second or two.
Despite this, a recent survey by MoneySuperMarket revealed that around 18% of UK drivers admitted to using a phone while at the wheel. The law still applies if you are stopped at traffic lights, stuck in a queue, driving a vehicle with stop-start technology, supervising a learner driver, or holding and using a device that is offline or in flight mode.
Exceptions to the Rule
The only exceptions are if you need to dial 999 or 112 in an emergency and stopping is unsafe or impractical, if you are making a contactless payment in a stationary vehicle — such as at a drive-thru — if you are safely parked, or if you are using the device to remotely park your car.
Hands-free devices are permitted, provided you do not hold them at any point during use. Hands-free access includes using, for instance, a Bluetooth headset, a windscreen mount, or a built-in sat nav. However, the device must not obstruct your view of the road and traffic ahead.
Impact on New Drivers
If you are a new driver — that is, if you passed your test within the last two years — accumulating six or more penalty points will result in your licence being revoked. Should this occur, you will be required to apply and pay for a new provisional licence, and successfully complete both the theory and practical tests once more in order to obtain a full driving licence.
Latest figures suggest that approximately 1.9 million UK drivers passed their tests within the past two years, meaning a significant number of motorists are at risk of losing their licences due to this common infraction.
