BEH/Specific/TBT-BEH-027

Mobile Phone Use Whilst Driving

Behavioural Safety & Leadership › Specific › Mobile Phone Use Whilst Driving

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Using a hand-held mobile phone whilst driving is a criminal offence under the Road Traffic Act 1988.
The penalty is six points on your licence and a £200 fine — new drivers lose their licence entirely.
Hands-free use is legal but still dangerous — it reduces reaction times by up to 50 percent.
Drivers using a phone are four times more likely to be involved in a crash than undistracted drivers.
The law also covers texting, scrolling, taking photos, and using apps whilst the engine is running.
Company vehicle policies often go further than the law, prohibiting all phone use including hands-free.
Construction workers drive long distances to and from sites, often in early morning darkness and fatigue.
Fleet operators can be prosecuted for failing to prevent phone use by their employed drivers.
Checking a phone at 60 mph means travelling 27 metres completely blind in just one second.
Several UK construction companies have dismissed workers for phone use whilst driving company vehicles.

Criminal offence	Six penalty points and a £200 fine — two offences within three years means a driving ban and potential job loss.
Reaction time	A driver on the phone has the same reaction time as someone at the drink-drive limit — 50% slower than normal.
Employer liability	Companies can be prosecuted under corporate manslaughter if a driver causes a death while using a company phone.

Don't

Pull over and stop safely in a legal parking place before making or taking any call.
Switch your phone to silent, do not disturb, or driving mode before setting off.
Plan your route and set your sat nav before starting the engine — not whilst driving.
Use voicemail to capture missed calls and return them at your next safe stop.
Inform callers you are driving and will call back when you have stopped safely.
Keep your phone out of reach in a bag or glovebox to remove temptation.
Take regular breaks on long journeys to check messages and return calls safely.
Report any near miss caused by phone distraction to your supervisor honestly.
Lead by example — if you are a supervisor, follow the same rules as your team.
Know your company driving policy and the consequences of breaching it clearly.

DON'T touch your phone while driving — even at traffic lights or in slow traffic.
DON'T text, scroll social media, or check emails whilst the vehicle is moving.
DON'T use your phone to take photos or videos from a moving vehicle at any time.
DON'T rely on hands-free being safe — it still significantly impairs concentration.
DON'T cradle a phone between your shoulder and ear whilst driving on site.
DON'T answer calls from your manager whilst driving — they can wait or leave a message.
DON'T assume slow site speeds make phone use acceptable — pedestrians are closer.
DON'T let passengers distract you by showing you content on their phone screens.
DON'T drive company vehicles without understanding the company phone use policy.
DON'T risk your licence, job, and someone's life for a call that can wait.

See also: Mobile Phone Use on Site | Fatigue Management and Working Hours

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