The two reasons you can use your mobile phone while driving according to Highway Code

New Highway Code rules brought in earlier this year have laid out when drivers should not use their mobile phones when behind the wheel.

Previously, rules generally forbade texting or calling while driving. However, since march 25, motorists who so much as touch their phone could receive a hefty £200 fine.

Experts at LeaseCar.uk are reminding motorists of what the law does and doesn't allow when it comes to using a phone while driving. Under the new rules, hands-free access -such as voice commands - is allowed so long as the actual device is not physically touched.

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For example, a smartphone displaying a map app is perfectly fine as long as it is suspended in place and isn't touched at any point while driving. However, this rule doesn't apply to a car's fixed infotainment systems which a driver can actually touch.

There are also strict rules on how a device is suspended in a car. A smartphone or sat nav must be placed where it doesn't obstruct any sight of the road or traffic ahead (such as the centre of a car's dashboard).

Drivers are also forbidden from even unlocking their phones while behind the wheel, even if they're in traffic or in a queue. Despite this, there are two exceptions to the rules.

Firstly, you can touch a mobile phone while driving if you are making a call to the emergency services, such as the police, fire service, ambulance or any other emergency service on 112 or 999 and are acting in the case of a genuine emergency. The second case is when drivers are using their phones to pay at a drive-thru, but only if a contactless payment is being made and the vehicle is not moving.

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