Figures from the early May Bank holiday suggested that many set off from Thursday, either taking an extra day of leave or using flexibility around workplaces to work from their destination
A warning has been issued to motorists who try to “work from car” ahead of the long bank holiday weekend could be fined up to £1,000.
Data from traffic service Inrix shows that during the early May Bank holiday, many drivers choose to leave on Thursday, either taking an extra day off or using their post-pandemic flexibility to work from their destination. Dash cam company Nextbase is urging early departures to ensure that their full attention is on the road and not their work.
According to Home Office data, in May 2022, there were around 7,900 Fixed Penalty Notices slapped for careless driving, including 4,200 instances involving mobile phone usage, reports Nottinghamshire Live. Bryn Brooker, the head of road safety at Nextbase, said: “A lot of people are cleverly taking advantage of new flexibilities around workplaces to get on their holidays earlier, working from their destination instead of ‘home’.
“Some stuck in traffic or eager to set out early might even be tempted to do a bit of ‘Work From Car’ – but this could easily see you fined for breaching the Highway Code. Remember, it’s illegal to use your phone while driving.”
Using your phone is illegal
“The Highway Code is absolutely clear: Operating your phone while driving, even if at a standstill in traffic, is illegal. That means dialling into a call, muting yourself, unmuting yourself – anything where your hand touches the phone could see you fined £200 on the spot and up to £1,000 in court, alongside six penalty points and disqualification from driving if you’ve recently got your licence.”
“The law changed on this in 2022, so some drivers might not have caught up yet – but ignorance of that change won’t save them from a Fixed Penalty Notice. If you need to use your phone, pull over.”
Passengers should avoid meetings likely to distract
“Those being driven long distances rather than driving themselves might feel freer to get some meetings done while in transit. Obviously there’s nothing wrong with a passenger having a call or two – but an extended conference call where the driver can hear the other voices too could distract the driver, which would breach Rule 148 of the Highway Code.
“This also applies to drivers using hands-free devices to make their own cars. Drivers need to do everything they can to remain alert and focused on the road – for their safety and that of their passengers.”
Use a dash cam to prove what happened
“If you’re setting out for a long drive this weekend, a dash cam could be a crucial asset. If you’re involved in an accident through no fault of your own as another driver is distracted, a dash cam will prove this in court and to your insurance companies, potentially saving you thousands of pounds with your retained no-claims bonus.”
