Mobile Phone Use

You face a fixed penalty of £60 or up to £1,000 on conviction in court (£2,500 for drivers of goods vehicles, buses or coaches) and 3 penalty points if you use a hand-held mobile phone when driving.

A hand-held phone is something that “is or must be held at some point during the course of making or receiving a call”. So picking up a phone for even a fraction of a second – even if using an earpiece – will be breaking the law. (But pressing numbers on a phone, providing it is not held, is not illegal). “Driving” means being in the car even when it is stationary and while the engine is still running.

If an accident is caused while a mobile phone is being used, this will be regarded as an aggravating feature.