Texting could cost you your driving licence

If you passed your driving test within the last 2 years and are caught using a phone at the wheel, your licence will be revoked.

Penalty changes from 1^st March mean that driving whilst using a phone will result in an increased fine of £200 and 6 penalty points. If your case goes to court, you could face disqualification and a maximum fine of £1,000.

This would mean that a new driver would lose their licence and would have to retake both parts of their driving test. Drivers who have held their licence for longer than 2 years would be banned if they accumulate a total of 12 points.

The rules are as follow:

• It is illegal to use a hand-held phone (or similar device) whilst driving a vehicle or riding a motorcycle – this also applies if you have stopped at traffic lights or are queuing in traffic
• The above also applies if you are supervising a learner driver/rider
• The police can pull you over if they think you are distracted

To prevent the temptation of using your phone, it has been recommended to switch it off and leave it in the glove box before starting a journey.