From today (25 March), rules in The Highway Code are coming into force to make any hand-held use of a mobile phone while driving illegal, except in limited circumstances.
This means you must not use a device in your hand for any reason, whether online or offline. The law applies to you if you’re:
- supervising a learner driver
- stopped at traffic lights
- queuing in traffic
- driving a car that turns the engine off when you stop moving
- holding and using a device that’s offline or in flight mode
There are exceptions, such as if you need to call 999 or 112 in an emergency or making a contactless payment in a vehicle that is not moving.
You can find the full rules on using a phone, sat nav or another device when driving on GOV.UK
FIS members are advised to review policies and advise employees who drive whilst on work duty.
To help re-enforce, the government’s award-winning THINK! team has launched an awareness campaign today to remind drivers not to use a hand-held phone at the wheel and the penalties of choosing to ignore this new law. This includes the infomercial below that can be circulated with the updated guidance to employees: