It's a well-known fact that you cannot use your mobile phone when behind the wheel of a car, as it is against the law.
But some might not realise that a car passenger also needs to steer clear of using mobile devices in certain circumstances.
Speaking to The Mirror, Charlotte Rennox, medical negligence expert at Fletchers Group, urged passengers to never use a phone when accompanying a learner driver.
The expert explained: "We know that driving whilst using a phone is illegal and extremely dangerous but did you know that a passenger using their phone could get you fined?
"If a passenger uses their phone when supervising a learner driver, you could be hit with a fine up to £1,000 along with six points on your licence. As the person aiding the learner driver, you are expected to also have full visibility and attention on the road, as if you were the actual driver."
Charlotte also shared other ways a passenger could land you a fine. For example, if you have too many passengers in your car, you could be punished – especially if you have an accident because of it.
She explained: "Ultimately, cars shouldn't be carrying more people than they are designed for. Despite there being no strict laws on your car being filled to the brim with passengers, doing so can seriously invalidate your insurance if caught.
"Having too many passengers can cause a multitude of distractions for the driver like not being able to see your wing mirrors and creating blind spots, increasing the risks of collisions. If stopped for careless driving, you could potentially be fined £100 on the spot."
Recently, separate experts also issued a warning about baby seats as motorists were warned that in Scotland, a child must remain in a car seat until they are either aged 12 or 135cms tall.
The experts at Kiddies Kingdom said that those who fail to meet these requirements can face a fine of up to £500, plus three points on their licence.
Jumaimah Hussain, Showroom Manager at Kiddies Kingdom added: "You must be using a registered car seat, so no pushchair carrycots allowed.
"Babies should always travel in a rear facing car seat and they’re officially allowed forward face at 15 months of age."
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