Worrying new figures from the Home Office show that a record-breaking number of speeding fines have been issued, while drivers caught using a mobile phone behind the wheel have also increased significantly. More than 2.5 million drivers faced a fixed penalty, a driver awareness course or sent to court in 2022.

Meanwhile, with tougher laws on mobile phone use while driving introduced in March 2022, drivers falling foul of the legislation rose by 93% year-on-year. Jack Cousens, head of roads policy for the AA, said:

The data also highlights how the changes in the Highway Code in January 2022, which introduced a hierarchy of road users and better protection for pedestrians, saw offences for neglecting pedestrian rights and traffic signs increase by a third compared to 2021. That comes after recent research from the RAC showed that a third (31%) of drivers think pedestrians face even greater danger at junctions after the changes to the Highway Code that were meant to improve safety.

Based on a survey carried out last year, the report reveals that in Great Britain, 1% of drivers were observed using a hand-held mobile phone while driving.   However, van drivers as a subcategory were found to be using phones at the wheel twice as often as car drivers, with 1.9% of van drivers compared to 0.8% of car drivers. Similar results were found in surveys from 2014 and 2017.   2.2% of Heavy Goods Vehicle (HGV) drivers were found to be using hand-held mobile phones while driving – using phones at the wheel even more often than van drivers.

Using a phone, sat nav or other device when driving

It’s illegal to hold and use a phone, sat nav, tablet, or any device that can send or receive data, while driving or riding a motorcycle.

This means you must not use a device in your hand for any reason, whether online or offline.

For example, you must not text, make calls, take photos or videos, or browse the web.

The law still applies to you if you’re:

• Stopped at traffic lights

• Queuing in traffic

• Supervising a learner driver

• Driving a car that turns off the engine when you stop moving

• Holding and using a device that’s offline or in flight mode

Exceptions

You can use a device held in your hand if:

• You need to call 999 or 112 in an emergency and it’s unsafe or impractical to stop

• You’re safely parked

• You’re making a contactless payment in a vehicle that is not moving, for example at a drive-through restaurant

• You’re using the device to park your vehicle remotely

Using devices hands-free

You can use devices with hands-free access, as long as you do not hold them at any time during usage. Hands-free access means using, for example:

• A Bluetooth headset

• Voice command

• A dashboard holder or mat

• A windscreen mount

• A built-in sat nav

The device must not block your view of the road and traffic ahead.