Using Google Maps while driving can lead to penalties if you touch the device, even when it is mounted in a holder, police have clarified. A recent operation caught more than 100 drivers on the wrong side of the law.
What are the rules for using your phone whilst driving?
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 whilst driving. The law still applies if you are stopped at traffic lights, queuing in traffic, supervising a learner driver, driving a car that turns off the engine when you stop moving, or holding and using a device that is offline or in flight mode.
There are a few exceptions. You can use a device if you need to call 999 or 112 in an emergency and it is unsafe or impractical to stop, if you are safely parked, if you are making a contactless payment in a vehicle that is not moving, for example at a drive-through restaurant, or if you are using the device to park your vehicle remotely.
Hands-free devices such as a Bluetooth headset, voice command or windscreen mount are permitted as long as you do not touch the device at any time. It also must not block your view of the road ahead.
What are the penalties?
Nottinghamshire Police have warned that anyone seen touching or holding their phone whilst driving is liable for six penalty points and a £200 fine, Birmingham Live reports. Even if the phone is mounted securely, you can still be liable for prosecution for other offences, such as driving without due care and attention.
Earlier in the month, a large number of drivers were pulled over on the M1 motorway for similar phone offences. Of the 101 drivers pulled over, 46 were penalised for either calling, texting, navigating or otherwise interacting with their mobile phones at the wheel. Each was spotted on the M1 motorway by the crew of an unmarked HGV during a regular pre-planned operation between October 12 and 16.
What do the police say?
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."
"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."
"The same goes for searching for a particular song or skipping the adverts in your favourite podcast. Both actions may seem innocuous, but they can each have catastrophic consequences for you and other road users."
"So, if this sounds like you, please take a moment to think about your habits behind the wheel and the potential consequences of your actions. At best, those consequences could be a fine and points on your licence; at worst, they could lead to a lengthy prison sentence."
