More than 1,300 motorists in the West Midlands have been caught breaking mobile phone laws this year, according to police data obtained by Marshall Motor Group. Drivers face six penalty points and a £200 fine for using a handheld phone while driving, with close to 2,000 punished in each of the last two years.
Confusion over phone rules while driving
The laws around mobile phone use behind the wheel have been tightened in recent years, but research suggests many motorists still are not sure what they are allowed to do. While it is widely known that making calls or sending texts while driving is illegal, there is less clarity about wider restrictions.
Drivers cannot touch their phone for almost any reason while behind the wheel, including while the car is stationary, such as at traffic lights or stuck in gridlocked traffic. Many drivers are unable to resist picking up their phones to check messages, scroll social media or change music, all of which is now banned.
Sat nav use and common errors
Motorists also need to be especially careful about how they use their phones as sat navs. This is only allowed if devices are secured in a holder before the start of a journey. Phones should not be held while being used as sat navs, and this is a common error.
Ben Welham, motoring expert at Marshall Motor Group, 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."
AI cameras and rising enforcement
Numbers getting caught are only likely to rise over the coming years as roadside camera technology becomes more advanced. Cameras using AI technology to detect phone use at the wheel are already being rolled out in parts of the country.
Welham added: "Drivers can receive six penalty points and a £200 fine for using a handheld phone while driving, but the consequences can be far more serious if a moment of distraction leads to a collision. If you need to check a message, change your route or do anything else that requires using your phone, the safest option is always to wait until you can pull over somewhere safe and legal."
