Will New Mobile Phone Rules Effect Taxi and Private Hire Drivers?
It’s already illegal to hold a phone or a sat nav whilst driving. With more mobile phone rules are coming into effect from 25th March 2022 many taxi and private hire drivers may be wondering how these law changes will impact them? Will driver Apps such as Freenow, Bolt, Uber and routing services such as Waze still be usable?
With the new guidance in place taxi drivers will be unable to illuminate the screen, check notifications or access an app to accept a new fare whilst driving. Please ensure you check the full list of rules below. Failing to adhere to these new rules carries a minimum fine of £200 and 6 points on your driving licence – so for instance if you’re caught twice, this could result in you losing your driving licence.
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List of examples you cannot do when driving a vehicle from March 25th 2022…
illuminating the screenchecking the timechecking notificationsunlocking the devicemaking, receiving, or rejecting a telephone or internet based callsending, receiving or uploading oral or written contentsending, receiving or uploading a photo or videoutilising camera, video, or sound recordingdrafting any textaccessing any stored data such as documents, books, audio files, photos, videos, films, playlists, notes or messagesaccessing an appaccessing the internet
So as you can see from the extensive list above, this now means unless you are safely parked waiting to accept a job, you will no longer be legally allowed to access your phone and accept a job, should one arise whilst driving.
To stay up to date with law changes regarding driving and mobile phone use, please access the GOV UK website here.
