From March 1 2017, drivers using their phone, received six points on their driving licence and receive a £200 fine. This change should have had a significant impact on young drivers in particular as they risk having their driving licence revoked following a first offence.  Motorists will no longer be offered the opportunity to go on a driver awareness course.

“It is illegal to use a mobile phone, held in the hand, whilst driving or while stopped with the engine on, it has been illegal since December 2003 but there has been a worrying shift in attitudes to mobile phone use behind the wheel. The RAC surveyed 1,714 motorists and 31% of them said they used a handheld phone behind the wheel compared with 8% in 2014.” Lincolnshire Police Jan 17

There are some things you can do to help. There are many Apps you can get which can auto respond to incoming text and calls to let the person know you are driving and can’t at this moment take the call/text.

In the Nokia its built in and can be access from Settings>system>phone. Scrolling down and you will see ‘text reply’

Android examples include https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.lemi.smsautoreplytextmessagefree&hl=en_GB

On apple there is an App written by AT&T in the US, but it works on all networks. So search for AT&T drivemode. You can obviously program the App with the message you want.

Happy safe driving folks!!!