More than 1,300 drivers in the West Midlands have been penalised this year for breaching a mobile phone rule that many motorists find confusing, according to police data obtained by a motoring group. Nearly 2,000 drivers were caught for similar offences in each of the last two years in the region.
The rule involves the use of mobile phones while driving. It is illegal not only to make calls or send texts but also to touch the phone for almost any reason while at the wheel. This includes when the vehicle is stationary, such as at traffic lights or in heavy traffic. Despite this, many drivers continue to pick up their phones to check messages, browse social media, or change music, all of which are prohibited.
Drivers must also take care when using phones as sat nav devices. The law permits this only if the device is fixed in a holder before the journey begins. Holding a phone while using it as a sat nav remains against the rules, and this mistake is common among drivers.
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Motoring experts warn that the number of drivers caught is likely to rise as new roadside cameras employing artificial intelligence to detect phone use at the wheel are being introduced in some areas.
Ben Welham, a motoring expert, said, “Using a mobile phone behind the wheel can be extremely distracting, and these figures show the scale of offending on roads across the West Midlands. Drivers face six penalty points and a £200 fine for using a handheld phone while driving. However, the consequences can be far more serious if distraction leads to a collision. If you need to check a message or change your route, the safest option is always to wait until you can pull over somewhere safe and legal.”