Driving and Mobile Phones - The Law

As a working man we often find that our van can turn into a mobile office on a regular basis. With mobile phone technology at an all time high it means that we are very rarely out of contact and prospective clients can reach us at almost any time. With this in mind is a prospective job really worth the price you could pay for being caught using your phone illegally whilst driving.

Hundreds of people in the UK are pulled over each year for using a mobile phone illegally whilst driving, so where do we stand in the eyes of the law while on the phone when driving?

The law states that it is illegal for a motorist to use a mobile phone when driving except when being used in conjunction with hands free hardware.

regardless of your feelings on the law using a mobile phone without the aid of a hands free unit is dangerous. Not only are you distracted from the road while involved in a conversation but you only have one hand on the steering wheel to react to road hazards.

If caught using a mobile phone illegally you risk receiving a fixed penalty fine and three penalty points added to your licence. With increased penalty points comes the possibility of an increase in the following years van insurance premium.

The fact is that hands free units are available on today's market at very low prices, most mobile phones now even come with a hands free kit included. This means that a motorist has no excuse to be using the phone illegally when driving. If you want to avoid the penalty points and keep your van insurance down then go hands free or better still switch off when driving.