While it’s clear cut that using your phone or any other handheld device while driving is illegal, the rules around using your car’s built-in infotainment system are more ambiguous.
It’s against the law to hold and use a phone, sat nav, tablet, or any handheld device capable of sending or receiving data, while driving a vehicle or riding a motorcycle.
This law remains in effect even if a driver is stationary at traffic lights, stuck in a queue, supervising a learner driver, or in a car with a start/stop engine when not moving.
Drivers must never use a handheld device behind the wheel, regardless of whether it’s offline or in flight mode.
Any driver found violating these rules could face up to six penalty points and a £200 fine, reports the Manchester Evening News.
However, systems like Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, which allow your smartphone to be mirrored on your car’s infotainment screen, are useful tools.
These systems enable you to accept calls, read texts, and play music from your phone, all while keeping your hands securely on the steering wheel.
UK law permits drivers to use these systems while driving, but it’s crucial to keep your attention on the road and not on the screen.
Make use of the system’s voice command features to avoid taking your eyes off the road.
Interacting with any part of the system that proves distracting can still result in a prosecution for careless driving.
The Highway Code states: “The police can stop you if they think you’re not in control because you’re distracted and you can be prosecuted.”
Bearing this in mind, it’s best to steer clear of using your device entirely if it’s causing distraction.
