Nottinghamshire Police have clarified that touching a mounted phone while driving is illegal, after an operation on the M1 caught more than 100 drivers. Of the 101 motorists stopped, 46 were penalised for using their mobile phones, receiving £200 fines and six penalty points.
What the law says
According to the UK Government, it is illegal to hold and use a phone, satnav, tablet or any device that can send or receive data while driving. This includes when stopped at traffic lights, queuing in traffic, supervising a learner driver, driving a car that turns off the engine when you stop moving, and holding and using a device that is offline or in flight mode.
There are exceptions, such as calling 999 or 112 in an emergency when it is unsafe or impractical to stop, being safely parked, making a contactless payment in a vehicle that is not moving (for example at a drive-through restaurant), or using the device to park your vehicle remotely.
Hands-free devices such as a Bluetooth headset, voice command or windscreen mount are permitted, provided you do not touch the device at any point and it does not obstruct your view of the road ahead.
Penalties and the M1 operation
Nottinghamshire Police have warned that anyone caught touching or holding their phone while behind the wheel faces six penalty points and a £200 fine. Even with a phone securely mounted, drivers can still face prosecution for other offences, such as driving without due care and attention.
The operation took place between 12 and 16 October on the M1, with offenders spotted by the crew of an unmarked HGV. The 46 drivers penalised were using their phones for calls, texts, navigation or other interaction with their devices.
Police comment
Sergeant Jim Carrington, of the Roads Policing Team, said: "The good news is that more and more drivers now understand that holding a mobile phone at the wheel is not acceptable."
He added: "The bad news is that there are clearly others out there who think they can interact with a device held in a secure mount. As several drivers have just found out to their cost, that is simply not the case, because if you are searching for an address or looking for an alternative route, you are not paying proper attention to the road in front of you."
Carrington noted that searching for a song or skipping adverts in a podcast may seem innocuous, but can have catastrophic consequences. He urged drivers to consider their habits, warning that at best they could face a fine and points, and at worst a lengthy prison sentence.
