Mobile phone driving laws - what is and isn't illegal?

Following changes on 25 March 2022, motorists are breaking the law if they use a handheld mobile phone behind the wheel for any use.

This includes taking photos or videos, scrolling through music playlists, using streaming services, or playing games – as the government closes a loophole previously exploited by dangerous drivers to escape conviction.

Transport Secretary Grant Shapps said: "I will do everything in my power to keep road-users safe, which is why I am taking a zero-tolerance approach to those who decide to risk lives by using their phone behind the wheel. I’m ensuring anyone who chooses to break this vital law can face punishment for doing so and we’ll continue our efforts to ensure our roads remain among the safest in the world."

Our 2020 Report on Motoring found that almost a third of Britain’s 40 million drivers – roughly 13 million people – say that handheld mobile phone use by other drivers is one of their top concerns. 

However, due to growing media attention and increased lobbying from the RAC, dangerous loopholes involving using phones behind the wheel have recently been closed.

Our Be Phone Smart campaign and the guide below provide advice on how to use your phone safely and within the rules of the law.

After the recent update to the law, it’s illegal to hold and use a phone, sat nav, tablet, or any handheld device that can send or receive data, while driving or riding a motorcycle.

For UK drivers, this means that they cannot use a device in your hand for any reason.

The law still applies if a driver is stopped at traffic lights, queuing in traffic, supervising a learner driver, or using a car that has a start/stop engine when you're not moving.

Drivers must never use a handheld device when behind the wheel, even if it is offline or in flight mode.

Should any driver break the law, they can get up to 6 penalty points and a £200 fine. They could also lose their licence if they passed their driving test within the last 2 years.

Drivers can get a further 3 penalty points if they do not have a full view of the road and traffic ahead or proper control of the vehicle if they are using a handheld device.

Offenders can also be taken to court where they can be banned from driving and receive a maximum fine of £1,000 - or up to £2,500 for lorry or bus drivers.

The RAC has campaigned to toughen the penalties, because we know that growing numbers of our members are frustrated at seeing other road users flouting the law.

There are two things to remember here:

1. You cannot hold your phone when behind the wheel, even momentarily (this includes when supervising a learner driver).
2. To use your phone for communication you must have hands-free access.

Any hands-free devices should be fully set up before you drive, so you can take calls without handling the device. Any device must not block the view of the road.

In an August 2019 report, the Commons Transport Committee put forward their case for banning the use of hands-free kits. They suggested that using the technology carries the same risk of collision as a hand-held phone.

The government said there are no plans to introduce a ban.

The police still have the power to stop you if they believe you have been distracted by using a mobile phone while driving, even if it’s fully hands-free.

Some road safety groups believe mobile phones should be completely switched off while driving, to avoid any distractions. 

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It is no excuse to say you’re simply following a map on your phone and that's why you've picked it up.

If you wish to use an app for directions you should fix the phone to the windscreen or dashboard, so it’s in clear view while driving (but not obstructing your view), without requiring you to hold or interact with it.

The law is clear on when you can use a hand-held device behind the wheel.

It is only legal if you are safely parked – and this does not include waiting in traffic or stationary at the traffic lights.

The law also includes a proviso for emergencies: you are allowed to make 999 or 112 calls on a hand-held device while driving, but only if it’s not otherwise safe to stop.

Following the recent update to the law, drivers can make a contactless payment in a vehicle that is not moving, for example at a drive-through restaurant. And with new technology being introduced to vehicles, drivers can use a mobile phone if it is being used park your vehicle remotely.

If you have something like or Black Box Car Insurance, you may well have an app that tracks your journeys and mileage.

It is illegal to use you phone while you’re driving, and these apps shouldn’t need you to interact with them while you’re on the road. They simply need to be running in the background.

Contrary to what many drivers seem to think, the law still applies when your vehicle is stopped at lights or in heavy traffic. 

If your engine is running, your phone shouldn’t be in your hands. This is still the case if the engine stops automatically to save fuel (called 'start-stop technology’).

To use your phone while your car is stationary you should only use hands-free technology. 

In the RAC Report on Motoring 2020, 42% of all drivers say they make or receive handheld calls while their car is stationary and the engine is switched on. Worryingly, this rate has increased from 39% in 2019. 

Using hands-free phone kits is currently legal in the UK, although police still have the right to penalise any hands-free user they think is being distracted and isn’t in control of their vehicle. 

The Commons Transport Committee previously suggested introducing a blanket ban on hands-free devices, which the Government later rejected.

The penalty for being caught using a hand-held device is a Fixed Penalty Notice of £200, and six penalty points on your licence. 

Drivers can get a further 3 penalty points if they do not have a full view of the road and traffic ahead or proper control of the vehicle if they are using a handheld device. Offenders can also be taken to court where they can be banned from driving and receive a maximum fine of £1,000.

Find out more about driving offences and their punishments.

Absolutely.

If a new driver (someone who has held a licence for less than two years) is caught using a hand-held device behind the wheel, they will lose their licence. It may also affect your car insurance premium. It may not go up immediately, however when you go to renew your car insurance or take out temporary car insurance, it will be considered and may affect your premium then.

Drivers are only allowed to clock up six penalty points in their first two years of driving, rather than the normal 12.

More experienced motorists can lose their licence if they receive 12 points in a three-year period – so just two mobile phone incidents under the current law. 

Also, if the police feel it is a particularly extreme example of using a mobile phone behind the wheel, the driver could be taken to court.

Here, the maximum fine is £2,000, and guilty drivers could face disqualification.

Motorists involved in an accident caused by using a hand-held device behind the wheel face stiff penalties too.

For example, the government is considering increasing the penalty for causing death by dangerous or careless driving from 14 years to life imprisonment.¹

A two-year driving ban is also obligatory.²

Despite mobile phone laws becoming stricter, British motorists are, worryingly, becoming more willing to use hand-held devices behind the wheel.

The RAC Report on Motoring 2020 found that 29% of all drivers – the equivalent to over 11 million motorists – confess to making or receiving calls on a handheld phone while they are driving, at least occasionally. Up from 24% in 2019.

Dangerous phone use is particularly prominent among young people. A shocking 18% of drivers aged 17-24 admit to making video calls while behind the wheel. Drivers in this age group are twice as likely to do this than average road-users.    

The easiest way to stop your mobile phone from distracting you when driving is to switch it off. Alternatively, your phone might have a driving mode putting a temporary block on sounds, vibrations and notifications.

If you absolutely have to stay in touch, make sure you have hands-free access to your phone so you can still take calls. Bluetooth devices cost little and most modern cars have Bluetooth connectivity as standard.

Try placing your phone in the glovebox, a pocket, or handbag with the sound and vibration turned off. This will prevent you from getting distracted by the screen lighting up or any alert sounds.

There are also apps to help you resist the urge to reach for your phone while driving. One of the most popular is called LifeSaver – Distracted Driving, available for iOS and Android devices.

This uses a clever combination of GPS monitoring and a rewards system to help overcome distracted driving.

It blocks the phone while driving (including text messages), and can automatically alert others that you’ve arrived safely at your destination, if you wish. 

There’s an online ‘Driver Portal’ Lifesaver dashboard that can be accessed by parents or commercial fleet managers, to reward drivers using the app and building up points. This will also, however, display transgressions.

There are lots more tips on the RAC's Be Phone Smart website.

Members of the public can report repeat offenders anonymously by calling Crimestoppers on 0800 555 111.

Learn more about reporting dangerous driving.

Our campaign, Be Phone Smart, encourages drivers to take a positive step by committing to not using a handheld phone. Make an online promise to keep within the law, keep your focus on the road ahead, and share the message with others. 

The campaign website includes tips and advice on staying safe and legal, answers common questions (such as 'can I touch my phone if I am using it hands-free?'), and features videos that discuss the issue of phone use by drivers in the UK.

Read next: A complete guide to speed camera fines

Want to protect yourself against any losses after an accident? Get legal expenses insurance for just £15 a year with RAC Legal Care Plus.

You can easily fix your mobile phone to your windscreen or dashboard with a mobile phone cradle.