Find out more about the government’s changes to driving penalties which aim to deter motorists from using mobile phones behind the wheel.
Last year, police officers across the UK were involved in a week-long crackdown on mobile phone use behind the wheel – which resulted in almost 8,000 fines being given to drivers. The Department for Transport is issuing new penalties from March 2017, in a bid to discourage this dangerous driving behaviour.
Penalties for using a phone while driving
The old penalties
- The fine for being caught using a hand-held mobile devise is £100
- Three points is added to the drivers’ licence
The new penalties as of March 2017
- The fine for being caught using a hand-held mobile devise is a fixed penalty fine – increased from £100 to £200
- Points added to the drivers’ licence has doubled – from three to six points
- New drivers who are caught using a phone within the first two years of passing their test will have their licence revoked2
Avoid jeopardising road safety for others
Using a mobile while driving is against the law, yet drivers will still tempt fate by quickly glancing at incoming messages and other notifications. It’s important that motorists are considerate of other road users and their safety when driving. They just need to remember to keep their eyes on the road ahead, and to only check phones once they’ve reach their destination.