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Prosecution regulations tightened on the use of hand-held mobile phones at the wheel
Police will soon be able to more easily prosecute drivers who are using a hand-held mobile phone at the wheel after the government strengthens existing laws to further improve road safety, reports Derek Maylor.
 The NW BT Unions Health & Safety Co-ord is aware that were changes to the Highway Code a few weeks ago, amongst them was a change making it clear that hand-held phone use at traffic lights or in traffic jams is illegal.
However back in November there were changes made to the in law which toughens the rules around mobile phone use behind the wheel will come into force next month.
The change bans drivers from using their phones to take photos or videos, scroll through playlists or play games – or we are concerned using one of the many Apps that are being put onto our mobiles as essential kit to do our work.
Current law states it is a criminal offence to use a hand-held mobile phone to call or text while driving but a legal loophole has ensured drivers have escaped punishment for other actions such as taking photos. This was because such actions aren’t seen as ‘interactive communication’, and therefore did not fit the definition of the offence.
The new law will come into effect on 25 March 2022 and means anyone caught using their hand-held device while driving will face a £200 fixed penalty notice and six points on their licence. The change will strengthen existing laws making it illegal to use a hand-held mobile phone while driving under virtually any circumstance.
Incidentally, there was a government consultation many years ago on mobile phone usage one forward-looking branch included “all hand held, or hand accessed, mobile equipment” which would have made this law change unnecessary as well has having saved lives.
Gov.uk © Crown copyright. (19 November 2021). Any use of hand-held mobile phone while driving to become illegal.
Available: www.gov.uk/using-mobile-phones-when-driving-the-law
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