Police Have A New Weapon To Fight Mobile Users Behind The Wheel

By now, you'll definitely have heard about the new rules surrounding using your phone while driving. The government recently doubled the penalties, so if you're caught, you'll be fined £200.

To be fair, the AA has revealed you're more likely to crash when you're on your phone than if you're drunk.

Usually it takes 12 points before your licence is revoked. But in the first two years of having a driving licence it only takes six. Now if you're caught on your mobile phone in a car you get six points on your licence. So if you're a new driver and you're caught on your phone you lose your licence immediately.

Not worth it.

If you reckon you can get away with it by just going on your phone when there's no police around - you might want to think twice.

Because police have revealed their new weapon to fight mobile use at the wheel... an unmarked lorry with flashing blue lights.

Yup, from that high up they can see straight into your lap and catch you in the act.

These pictures of the HGV were taken on the A38 near Plymouth, Devon. According to the Sun, it even caught someone cooking food on a hotplate on their lap... no, seriously.

Chief Inspector Adrian Leisk said: "The overall aim of Operation Allied Wolf is road casualty reduction, at the same time helping to minimise crime and traffic related incidents in the area."

According to the BBC, 22 people were killed and 99 seriously injured in accidents where a driver was using their phone in 2015.

You can't use your phone when you're at the lights or stuck in traffic. Watching a video is also illegal - even if it's in a cradle.

You can use a phone to listen to music or a podcast but only if you're listening to it handsfree.

You can check your sat nav if it's in a hands-free holder, but if it's in your hand it's illegal. But if you're distracted by your sat nav and it affects your ability to drive you can still be prosecuted. Yikes.

You can pull over to check your phone - but make sure that your engine is switched off.

Don't risk it.

Topics: Mobile Phone

Mel Ramsay

Mel Ramsay has been a Senior Journalist for Tyla and LADbible since 2015. She started her career writing obituaries and funeral guides online. Since then, her work has been published in a wide variety of national and local news sites. She is part of the BBC's Generation project and has spoken about young people, politics and mental health on television, radio and online. Contact her - [email protected]

@melramsay_