Using a Mobile Phone

• The use of a hand-held phone or similar device while driving is prohibited. A hand-held device is something that is held at some point during the course of making or receiving a call or performing any other interactive communication function such as sending and receiving spoken or written messages, sending or receiving images or using the internet.
• Hands-free equipment is allowed provided that it can be operated without holding it. Pushing buttons on a phone while it is in a cradle or on the steering wheel for example is not prohibited, provided you do not hold the phone, but, should an accident occur, you can still be prosecuted.
• Equipment such as Sat Navs that send or receive data (which includes GPS transmissions) can only be used hands-free.
• Other people in the vehicle use a non-hand free device and the driver can use them when safely parked.
• Driving includes times when stopped at traffic lights or during other hold-ups that may occur and when the vehicle can be expected to move off after a short while.
• There is an exemption for calls to 999 (or 112) in genuine emergencies where it is unsafe or impractical to stop.