Under current driving laws, making a phone call using a hand-held device while driving is considered illegal.
New updates to the law will see motorists be issued a sizeable fine if they are caught touching their phone or sat nav while behind the wheel.
The law applies to those driving motorcycles, lorries and buses as well.
Transport Secretary Grants Shapps has said that the new law will help "protect all road users" by making it easier to prosecute anyone using their phones at the wheel.
The rule states that being stationary in traffic would also count as driving.
The Department for Transport (DfT) adding that this precise guidance will ensure that drivers understand it would be “illegal” to use a phone in motorway traffic jams.
What fine will you face if caught using your phone while driving?
Anyone caught using their phone to make calls, take photos or videos, scroll through social media or play games will be fined £200 and face up to six penalty points on their driving licence.
They could also lose their licence if they passed their driving test in the past two years.
While the DfT have confirmed drivers will still be able to use ‘hands-free’ options like bluetooth, voice command, built-in sat nav, drivers need to make sure the device doesn't block their view of the road and traffic ahead.
If the police feel you are not in full control of your vehicle because you're distracted by a hand-held device, you can still be prosecuted, facing three penalty points.
The law warns that you may even be taken to court for the mistak.
You could be banned from driving and get a maximum fine of £1000 (£2,500 for drivers of lorries or buses).
What are the exemptions under the new mobile phone law?
The new driving law still applies if you’re stopped at traffic light, queuing in traffic or supervising a learner driver.
The only times you can use a hand-held phone is if you’re safely parked or you need to call 999 or 112 while its unsafe/impractical to stop your vehicle.
There will also be an exemption made for those making a contactless payment with their phones while stationary.
This will cover anyone paying with a card reader at restaurants or road tolls to keep pace with modern technology.
Motoring lawyer Nick Freeman criticised the exemption of hands-free usage, calling the law "staggering short-sighted," earlier this year.
