Using satnav on your mobile phone while driving is illegal, warns police chief
You could face a £200 fine or get banned from the roads
Your support helps us to tell the story
From reproductive rights to climate change to Big Tech, The Independent is on the ground when the story is developing. Whether it's investigating the financials of Elon Musk's pro-Trump PAC or producing our latest documentary, 'The A Word', which shines a light on the American women fighting for reproductive rights, we know how important it is to parse out the facts from the messaging.
At such a critical moment in US history, we need reporters on the ground. Your donation allows us to keep sending journalists to speak to both sides of the story.
The Independent is trusted by Americans across the entire political spectrum. And unlike many other quality news outlets, we choose not to lock Americans out of our reporting and analysis with paywalls. We believe quality journalism should be available to everyone, paid for by those who can afford it.
Your support makes all the difference.Drivers are being warned that using a mobile phone to navigate in the car could lead to a ban and a £200 fine.
As millions prepare to hit the roads for the Bank Holiday weekend, drivers are being cautioned that penalties brought in this April to stop drivers using their phones at the wheel also extend to the use of mobiles as satnavs.
While it’s not illegal to use navigation apps completely, motorists can be prosecuted if they touch the handset while driving.
Amid the changes, the maximum penalty doubled meaning that those caught out could face a £200 fine and six points, or even disqualification.
“If an officer determines that a driver using their satnav hindered their ability to control the car, the driver could face prosecution,” said a spokesman for the National Police Chiefs’ Council.
A recent report published by comparison website uSwitch found that Britain has become a nation of ‘satnav junkies’.
The study revealed that a shocking one in 20 drivers received a speeding fine because of their addiction to satnavs which allegedly show the wrong speed limit.
And that, driver’s over-reliance on the devices led nearly one in five motorists to drive ‘dangerously.’
It’s a theory that's also supported by data from Green Flag that warned the number of speeding offences has risen by 44 per cent over the last five years.
Join our commenting forum
Join thought-provoking conversations, follow other Independent readers and see their replies
Comments