Wielding a car got a lot more expensive this morning – the five fresh rules drivers need to know about – Mirror Online
Possessing a car got a lot more expensive this morning – the five fresh rules drivers need to know about
Fresh child car seat laws come in to force today – along with a series of fresh mobile phone driving laws and speeding fines which could result in drivers having their licence revoked entirely
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- 04:12, one MAR 2017
- Updated 11:11, nineteen APR 2017
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Fresh rules on car taxes, penalties and passenger regulations take effect today – and could cost motorists hundreds of pounds.
As of Wednesday one March, the number of penalty points and fines given to drivers caught using their mobile phones behind the wheel will dual.
Motorists who are caught using their handset whilst driving will receive six penalty points and a £200 fine – it was previously three penalty points and a £100 fee.
Adding to this, child car seat manufacturers now have to go after a fresh set of safety rules, and certain models have been withdrawn from the market entirely. These are the fresh rules for parents using child car seats.
Here’s our breakdown of the major one March switches for drivers.
1. Fresh penalties for mobile phone users
It’s been illegal to use a hand-held mobile phone while driving, or while the engine is on, since December 2003.
However, the government is cracking down further, and penalties have just become a lot harsher.
From one March 2017, the Immobilized Penalty Notice for using a hand-held mobile phone while driving will increase to £200 and six points.
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This means fresh drivers who get caught using their phone at the wheel could risk losing their licence entirely.
That’s because any driver issued with six points within two years of passing their test is automatically disqualified.
It’s not just mobile phones
The same rules apply to all electronic devices which can be connected to the internet – including iPods, tablets, and some digital cameras.
If you want to use a device, look for a suitable place to stop, and make sure your engine is switched off.
If you are supervising a learner driver, you cannot use a hand-held phone or similar device, as you are in charge of the vehicle.
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Can I still use my mobile phone as a sat nav?
The law says you can use your mobile phone as a sat nav – but only if you programme it before you commence the car.
It must be in a holder out of the 45-degree angle of the driver’s view. You can’t re-programme or touch it while in movement, the same rules apply for any sat nav.
Can you use hands-free while driving?
Using hands-free (e.g. for navigation) is not illegal, however, if you emerge dispelled by your device or it causes you to have an accident, you could still be prosecuted by the police.
The government’s Think! campaign says drivers using hands-free mobile phones are often slower at recognising and reacting to hazards – in a similar way to those using hand-held phones at the wheel. In fact, research shows you are four times more likely to be in a crash if you’re using your phone.
Two. Child car seat rules – some models are now banned
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If you’ve got a backless booster seat in your car, you may want to substitute it after today.
Fresh rules have now switched how these seats – also known as booster cushions – are made across Europe. Some manufacturers are now banned from lashing certain models on the high street.
This is because the government believes backless car seats suggest much less protection in the event of a collision.
Under the fresh guidelines, backless booster seats (which act like a cushion by placing children higher up on the back seat but without suggesting any extra protection) are only suitable for kids who are taller than 125cm and weigh more than 22kg.
If your child is below this weight/height, you can invest in a newer model, albeit this is not compulsory.
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The Department for Transport advises that parents know the updated rules for using child car seats.
Children must normally use a child car seat until they’re twelve years old or one hundred thirty five centimetres tall, whichever comes very first.
