Drive-thru users are being reminded of a little known rule that could see people fined and receive six points on their licence.
Motorists could face a £200 fine and points on their licence if they are found to use their phone to pay at a drive-thru if the vehicles engine is still running, MyLondon reports.
Hundreds of thousands of people use their mobile phones to pay when visiting a drive-thru, but not many people know if you do this, it would come under the rule which bans use of a phone whilst driving. Even if your wheels aren’t moving you are classed as driving if your engine is on.
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It is already illegal to text or make a phone call (other than in an emergency) using a hand-held device while driving.
Now, laws go further to ban drivers from using their phones to take photos or videos, scroll through playlists, play games and pay at drive through services while their engine is on.
This will mean anyone caught using their hand-held device while driving will face a £200 fixed penalty notice and six points on their licence.
Drivers will still be able to continue using a device ‘hands-free’ while driving, such as a sat-nav, if it’s secured in a cradle.
They must, however, always take responsibility for their driving and can be charged with an offence if the police find them not to be in proper control of their vehicle.
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.”
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