On 25 March 2022, rules in The Highway Code came into force to make any use of a hand-held mobile phone while driving illegal, save for limited circumstances.
A public consultation on the changes was held in 2021, with 80% of respondents being supportive of the changes. The changes mean you cannot use a device in your hand for any reason.
The law applies to you if you are:
- supervising a learner driver
- stopped at traffic lights
- queuing in traffic
- driving a car that switches the engine off when you stop moving
- holding and using a device that is offline or in flight mode
There are limited exceptions, for example, if you need to call 999 or 112 in an emergency or if you are making a contactless payment in a vehicle that is not moving.
Click here to view the full rules on using a phone, sat nav or another device when driving.