It will soon become illegal to drive while using a hand-held phone in any way, even when stationary, the Department for Transport has announced.
It's already illegal to text or make a phone call using a hand-held device while driving, unless using the device 'hands-free', including as a Sat-Nav if secured in a cradle.
But from the start of 2022, new tough laws will ban drivers from using their phones to take photos or videos, scroll through playlists or play games while driving - even if stopped at traffic lights or in a jam.
Anyone caught out using their mobile phone will face a £200 penalty and six point deduction on their license.
The only exception is if a motorist's phone is used while driving to contact the emergency services.
Alongside this, drivers making contactless payments while their cars are not moving will be exempt from the law, such as when paying at a drive-thru restaurant or road toll.
Transport Secretary Grant Shapps said: "Too many deaths and injuries occur while mobile phones are being held.
"By making it easier to prosecute people illegally using their phone at the wheel, we are ensuring the law is brought into the 21st century while further protecting all road users.
"While our roads remain among the safest in the world, we will continue working tirelessly to make them safer, including through our award-winning THINK! campaign, which challenges social norms among high-risk drivers."
The strengthened regulations follow a public consultation in which 81 percent of respondents supported proposals to strengthen the law and make it easier for offenders to be prosecuted.
