A message will appear alongside a loud alarm on millions of mobile phones today. The government is running a nationwide trial of a new public alert system that will see people receive the test notification at the same time across the UK.
The system, which is intended to be used in life-threatening situations including flooding and wildfires, is being tested across the whole of the UK for the first time.
The message will be received on 4G and 5G mobile phones, along with sound and vibration for up to 10 seconds even if devices are on silent. It will say: “This is a test of Emergency Alerts, a new UK government service that will warn you if there’s a life-threatening emergency nearby. In a real emergency, follow the instructions in the alert to keep yourself and others safe. Visit gov.uk/alerts for more information. This is a test. You do not need to take any action.”
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Phone users will be prompted to swipe away the message or clicking “OK” on their home screen before being able to continue using their device.
What time is the Emergency Alert test today?
The test will take place at 3pm on Sunday, April 23.
This means it will coincide with major events including the London Marathon and the 2pm kick-off Premier League ties between Bournemouth and West Ham and Newcastle and Tottenham Hotspur. Officials said they have worked with the Football Association and the Marathon’s organisers to make sure the impact of the test will be limited.
Drivers are advised not to look at or touch their phone when the alert goes off. Instead they should wait until it is sage to view the message - just as when receiving any call or message.
The AA has warned that people must not pick their phones up to look at the message if they are driving - as doing so would be breaking the law. The offence can carry a £200 fine.
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