Mobile Phone usage in vehicles.

New law introducing stricter penalties regarding the use of mobile phones, car kits and hand held devices while driving are to be introduced, under the new proposals the fixed penalty is to raise to £60 and three penalty points on your licence. Larger fines and penalties may be given if the driver is convicted in Court, simply holding your mobile phone or hand held device while driving will be regarded as breaking the law.
            Car kits may be used as long as the mobile phone or hand held device is mounted in a cradle fixed to the dashboard, Blue tooth kits that do not have a cradle are only allowed with voice dialing and auto-answering only, to manually dial, answer or operate a handheld device it must be mounted in a fixed cradle.

  • Using a hand-held device includes making or receiving calls, pictures, and text messaging or accessing the Internet.
  • Answering a mobile phone while stopped at traffic lights is not allowed unless the phone is in a suitable car kit, this would also apply to being stationary in heavy traffic even with the engine switched off.
  • Work related calls are liable for prosecution as is your boss if he or she insists that you take the call unless the phone is in a suitable car kit.
  • If you need to make a call to the Emergency 999 service this is permitted.
  • Hand held PDA’s and navigation aids will also need to be mounted via a cradle to the dashboard.
  • If the driver is regarded to be driving dangerously or without care then penalties can include a large fine disqualification and up to two years imprisonment.

As long as using your mobile phone or hand-held device doesn't involve holding (includes pressing buttons) it to operate it at any point you can use it in your vehicle. In other words it should be mounted in a suitable cradle as part of a hands free phone car kit.

Currently penalties include a £30 on the spot fine for using a mobile phone while driving or up to £1000 if the driver is convicted in court (£2,500 for drivers of goods vehicles, buses or coaches).

Please seek independent legal advice if you are in doubt as to whether any particular action is prohibited by the regulations.