Using a phone while in the car passenger seat could land you a £200 fine and six points

USING your mobile phone while sitting in the passenger seat of a car could land you a fine and penalty points in certain circumstances.

According to information on Gov.uk if you are supervising a learner driver on a lesson, then that means that you are legally responsible for the car, therefore could land a fine for committing offences - This means it is illegal for the instructor to touch their phone while sitting in the passenger seat.

Offending drivers could be handed a £200 fine and penalty points while in the passenger seat in certain circumstances.

Neil Greig, IAM RoadSmart Director of Policy and Research, said: "Supervising a learner actually puts you in the driving seat so legally you must treat it in the same way as if you were behind the wheel.

"Learning to drive is stressful enough without a passenger beside you who is more worried about posting than parking."

Mobile phone driving laws were introduced in December 2003 which saw motorists handed a £60 fine for an offence before rising to £100 in 2013.

Fine increased to £100 and penalty points endorsements doubled in 2017, to act as a further deterrent.

Drivers could face a maximum fine of up to £1,000 of a phone driving law offence.

The law still applies to you if you’re stopped at traffic lights and queuing in traffic.

To be able to use a phone while driving it must be mounted to a hands-free device and not touched while on the road.

Hands-free devices include:

• a bluetooth headset
• voice command
• a dashboard holder or mat
• a windscreen mount
• a built-in sat nav

Source: https://www.express.co.uk/life-style/cars/1161051/Phone-driving-laws-passenger-seat-fine-penalty-points-UK

Police have a new camera which can spot drivers using mobile phones or speeding nearly a mile away

Police have unveiled their new weapon – a camera that can produce clear images of people inside a car almost a mile away

The massive camera dubbed 'The Long Ranger' has been showcased at the launch of a pilot project called Operation Indemnis.

Police in Gloucester are using the camera to tackle various motoring offences including speeding, tailgating and using a mobile phone while driving. 

Previous Speed guns have been able to detect how fast cars travel but the new camera produces clear video footage and still photographs of the people inside them. 

Martin Surl, Police and Crime Commissioner for Gloucestershire where the kit is being tested, said he hoped that it would catch people using their mobile phones.

What is the law on using a mobile phone while driving? 

•  It’s illegal to hold a phone or sat nav while driving or riding a motorcycle. Access must be hands free. 
• 6 penalty points and a £200 fine if you use a hand-held 
• You’ll also lose your licence if you passed your driving test in the last 2 years.

• The device must not block your view of the road and traffic ahead.
• You can get 3 penalty points 

• You must stay in full control of your vehicle at all times.
• You can get 3 penalty points

 Source: www.gov.uk

Officers will use the long-distance camera and automatic number plate recognition (ANPR) to check on what vehicles are on the roads and how they are being driven.

If the pilot is successful, it could be applied to any road in the county.

Source, to read more please visit  https://www.dailymail.co.uk/