TyrePlus Blog

We live in a digital world in which a lot of us rely on our mobile phones throughout the day, whether it’s to call a family member, text a friend, post on Facebook or check work emails. While you’re free to check your mobile pretty much whenever you want, there’s one situation in which you definitely shouldn’t - and that’s while you’re driving your car.

While you might think you can get away with it, there are a whole host of reasons why you shouldn’t even so much as glance at your mobile when you’re behind the wheel. To help you brush up on the facts associated with using your phone while you’re out and about, keep reading.

How using your phone can affect your driving

It’s no secret that using your phone when you’re on the road is extremely dangerous - but just how does it affect your ability to drive? Below, we take a look at some of the ways this bad habit can impact on you while you’re behind the wheel.

It’s distracting

There’s no escaping the fact that using your phone when you’re driving is distracting. After all, it requires you to focus on two ‘thinking’ tasks at the same time, which is something the brain is not designed to do effectively. So, even if you think you’re a skilled multi-tasker, it’s important to put your phone away while you’re driving.

It’s visually impairing

When you glance down at your mobile, you’re taking your eyes off the road. Even if it’s just for a couple of seconds, you’re letting whole stretches of road go by that you’re not paying attention to, increasing your chances of having an accident.

Looking at your phone means that you could fail to spot road signs and traffic lights, and you could fail to notice that the car in front of you has slowed down or stopped. You could end up drifting across lanes, and you may even fail to spot pedestrians or cyclists. A quick glance at your mobile phone could have catastrophic consequences, so it’s best to simply avoid looking at it altogether.

It’s more dangerous than drink driving

Did you know that you’re twice as likely to have an accident if you’re texting while driving than if you are drink driving? In a study carried out by the Transport Research Laboratory in 2002, it was discovered that some aspects of a driver’s performance are impaired more by using a phone rather than a blood alcohol level at the legal limit. The study revealed that the reaction time of someone texting and driving is 2.8 times greater when compared to someone at the drink-drive limit in England and Wales.

What the law says

It is illegal to use a handheld mobile device while driving. This includes holding the phone to make a call, looking at it to read a text message and checking social media. It’s also important to note that this includes when you’re stopped at traffic lights or in a queue. In a nutshell, if you so much as press a single button on your phone while you’re driving, you are considered to be breaking the law.

If you’re found to be using your phone behind the wheel, you can expect to pay the price. As of March 2017, the penalty is six points on your driving licence and a £200 fine. If you passed your test within the last two years, you will lose your licence and have to take the test again.

Even if your phone is in a cradle, you should be careful. If you’re using your device as a sat nav, touching the screen could be too distracting. This is considered to be ‘not in proper control’ or ‘driving without due care and attention’, both of which you could receive a penalty for. For example, the penalty for ‘not in proper control’ is a £100 fine and three points on your licence.

However, if the police believe the offence is so bad that this penalty is not enough, you could be summoned to court. If taken to court, you can expect to pay much greater fines, with the maximum charge being £1,000 or £2,500 if you’re driving a bus or goods vehicle.

Aside from being requested to pay a hefty fine, you could also be prosecuted for careless or dangerous driving. If someone has been killed, you could even be prosecuted for causing death while careless or dangerous driving.

If a death has occurred, prison is almost certain. Recently, the Ministry of Justice concluded a discussion to increase the maximum prison sentence for causing death by dangerous driving from 14 years to life imprisonment.

Top tips: how to avoid using your phone while driving

If you’re guilty of using your phone while driving, it’s time to kick the habit. To help you change your ways, you might want to take note of these top tips.

Stow your phone out of reach

If you can’t get to your mobile, you won’t be tempted to check it. So, before you set off on a journey, stow your phone out of reach. For example, you could put it in your glove compartment, or you could even keep it in the boot. In doing so, you’ll be able to commit all of your attention to controlling your vehicle.

Plan regular pit stops

If you simply can’t go for long without looking at your phone, plan regular pit stops throughout your journey. Make sure you are parked safely and the engine is switched off before you check it.

Keep your family and friends informed

It can be difficult to ignore your phone if it’s buzzing and pinging away when you’re driving. To keep these distractions to a minimum, keep your friends and family informed and let them know that you won’t be able to reply to their texts and calls while you’re on the road.

Turn it off

If you can, simply turn your phone off completely. Alternatively, you could put it on silent or even on flight mode so that you don’t receive any calls, texts or notifications while you’re behind the wheel.

In no situation is it acceptable to use a handheld mobile while you’re behind the wheel. The wellbeing of you and other drivers is paramount, so think twice before you reach for your phone.