New Freeway Code rule means drivers should change how they hearken to music or threat £200 superb

MOTORISTS are being warned to gear up for harder guidelines on cell phone use when driving.

Texting or making cellphone calls whereas driving is already unlawful, with a £200 superb hooked up, however the authorities is introducing new guidelines to shut gray areas in terms of music streaming and taking images.

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Driving with a cell phone was banned in 2003 apart from when utilizing a hands-free system.

However there has all the time been a “authorized loophole” when utilizing a cellphone to scroll by means of music playlists or take photos or video in your cellphone whereas driving as they don’t seem to be explicitly banned in The Freeway Code.

Here’s what you must know.

What’s the present legislation on utilizing a cell phone when driving?

Speaking and texting on a cell phone whereas driving has been banned for nearly 20 years.

The one exceptions are if there may be an emergency.

It’s nonetheless authorized to make use of a cell phone on a hands-free system.

You can even use the satnav in your cellphone so long as the system is secured individually in your automobile and you do not contact it.

What’s altering?

Police will be capable of prosecute drivers for utilizing their cellphone on the wheel in any circumstance.

New wording shall be added to The Freeway Code to clarify that utilizing your cellphone at site visitors lights or in site visitors jams is illegitimate.

The federal government has now mentioned that from January 29, legal guidelines will go additional to ban drivers from utilizing their telephones to take images or movies, scroll by means of playlists or play video games.

The one exception shall be utilizing your cellphone as a cost, whereas stationary, for items at a drive-through and at tolls.

How a lot may you be fined for utilizing a cellphone whereas driving?

The goal of the adjustments is to spice up highway security and make it simpler for police to prosecute drivers utilizing a cell phone on the wheel

Offenders can face both a set penalty discover of £200 or a superb of as much as £2,500 within the magistrates’ courtroom.

Additionally, you will get six penalty factors added to your licence.

People who have handed their driving check up to now two years will lose their licence as properly.

Comparability web site Confused.com has additionally warned that there could also be insurance coverage implications if caught driving whereas in your cellphone.

It mentioned: “If you happen to’re a brand new driver who’s handed your check inside the final two years, you’ll robotically lose your licence.

“In a while, in terms of renewing your automobile insurance coverage, you may see a hefty enhance in your premiums.

“If you happen to’re concerned in an accident whilst you’re utilizing your cellphone, you’ll discover that your insurance coverage supplier may not cowl you. So, even placing apart the chance to your individual life and the lives of others, it may show to be costly for you, too.