Any hand-held mobile phone use while driving is to be made illegal from next year, with drivers facing a £200 fine and six penalty points on their licence.
It is already illegal to text or make a phone call (other than in an emergency) using a hand-held device while driving and now the Government intends to make activities like taking photos or videos, scrolling through playlists or playing games on handheld devices at the wheel illegal too.
Drivers will still be able to use a device ‘hands-free’ while driving, such as a sat-nav, if it’s secured in a cradle and will be able to use a handheld mobile phone to make contactless payments while stationary.
Transport Secretary Grant Shapps said: "Too many deaths and injuries occur while mobile phones are being held.
"By making it easier to prosecute people illegally using their phone at the wheel, we are ensuring the law is brought into the 21st century while further protecting all road users."
RAC road safety spokesman Simon Williams welcomed the tougher rules, but added: “It’s absolutely vital that the new law is vigorously enforced otherwise there’s a risk that it won’t deliver the sort of behaviour change that will make our roads safer.”
