Expanding the offence of using a hand-held mobile phone while driving to include non-connected mobile application actions

Consultation outcome EXPANDING THE OFFENCE OF USING A HAND-HELD MOBILE PHONE WHILE DRIVING TO INCLUDE NON-CONNECTED MOBILE APPLICATION ACTIONS Get emails about this page This was published

under the 2019 to 2022 Johnson Conservative government This consultation has concluded READ THE FULL OUTCOME USING A MOBILE PHONE WHILE DRIVING CONSULTATION OUTCOME ​ HTML USING A MOBILE

PHONE WHILE DRIVING CONSULTATION: OUTCOME AND SUMMARY OF RESPONSES PDF, 201 KB, 21 pages This file may not be suitable for users of assistive technology. Request an accessible format. If you

use assistive technology (such as a screen reader) and need a version of this document in a more accessible format, please email [email protected]. Please tell us what format you

need. It will help us if you say what assistive technology you use. EXPLANATORY MEMORANDUM TO THE REVISION OF THE HIGHWAY CODE RULE 149 ABOUT USING MOBILE PHONES WHILE DRIVING PDF, 34.3 KB,

5 pages This file may not be suitable for users of assistive technology. Request an accessible format. If you use assistive technology (such as a screen reader) and need a version of this

document in a more accessible format, please email [email protected]. Please tell us what format you need. It will help us if you say what assistive technology you use. THE HIGHWAY

CODE: ALTERATIONS TO THE HIGHWAY CODE (RULE 149) PROPOSED TO BE MADE BY THE SECRETARY OF STATE FOR TRANSPORT AND LAID BEFORE BOTH HOUSES OF PARLIAMENT ON 1 FEBRUARY 2022 PURSUANT TO SECTION

38 OF THE ROAD TRAFFIC ACT 1988 PDF, 52.3 KB, 2 pages This file may not be suitable for users of assistive technology. Request an accessible format. If you use assistive technology (such as

a screen reader) and need a version of this document in a more accessible format, please email [email protected]. Please tell us what format you need. It will help us if you say what

assistive technology you use. DETAIL OF OUTCOME This document summarises the responses we received and explains how the government intends to act on the main proposals, as well as on some of

the more salient and constructive comments made by consultees. The Department for Transport (DfT) intends to implement the main change proposed in the consultation, to amend the law so that

the offence of using a hand-held mobile phone while driving captures drivers who are using their phone for ‘standalone’ functions, as well as those using interactive communication

functions. We propose to implement this change at the earliest opportunity, so that the police can enforce the offence in a more straightforward way. DfT noted the misunderstandings and

requests for clarification received in response to this proposal (for example, relating to the use of satnavs on phones and whether the stop phase of stop-start engines allows a driver

lawfully to use a hand-held mobile phone) and plans to deal with them by expanding guidance on GOV.UK and making slight alterations to The Highway Code. We also intend to implement the

change that proposed to allow an exemption from the offence of using a hand-held mobile phone while driving to make a contactless payment. DfT also commissioned research into attitudes

towards mobile phone use, understanding of the law and penalties, and the extent to which drivers use their mobile phones while driving. ------------------------- ORIGINAL CONSULTATION

SUMMARY Proposes expanding the mobile phones while driving rules to include the use of stored, non-connected ('standalone mode' or 'flight mode') functions. This

consultation ran from 17 OCTOBER 2020 TO 11:59PM ON 17 JANUARY 2021 CONSULTATION DESCRIPTION Consultation proposing: * broadening the offence of using a hand-held mobile phone while driving

so that it captures standalone mode functions as well as the existing interactive communication functions * to introduce a new exemption to the using a hand-held mobile phone while driving

offence to allow drivers to make contactless payments using a mobile phone at appropriate locations, for example at drive through food outlets These changes, if implemented, will need to be

reflected in The Highway Code, and the consultation document includes the suggested revised wording. DOCUMENTS USING A MOBILE PHONE WHILE DRIVING: CONSULTATION ON CHANGING THE LAW PDF, 216

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