Using a handheld phone while driving remains a pressing problem.

The latest figures from the Ministry of Justice reveal a staggering 90% surge in convictions, underscoring the gravity of the issue.

To make it even more shocking, it does not include those who issued a fixed penalty for the offence.

All change, no change

Despite a further change in the law last year, court convictions for mobile phone use while driving increased by 90%.

The number of motorists found guilty in court for this offence rose to a substantial 13,332 last year, a clear indication of the consequences of violating the law.

This comes just a year after the law was toughened in 2022.

Ministers significantly tightened the law concerning using mobile phones at the wheel, with virtually all use of mobile phones being banned.

Just a phone

Drivers were told not to take photos or videos, scroll through audio playlists or play games.

Previously, drivers were banned from texting or making a call while driving unless they were hands-free under a law introduced in 2003.

Motoring experts said that police forces across the country had stepped up their enforcement of mobile phone driving offences, using new roadside cameras and unmarked heavy-goods vehicles that covertly allow a bird’ s-eye view of cars.

According to Ministry of Justice figures, 13,332 drivers were found guilty in court for the offence last year, up from 6,990 in 2022.

Caught on camera

Operation Snap saw forces nationwide involved in allowing the public to submit video evidence of driving offences captured on dashcams.

Jack Cousens, head of roads policy at the AA, said: “Despite a high-profile change in the law, it seems many drivers are still falling foul when it comes to using a mobile phone behind the wheel.

“While our phones have become smart, it is dumb to play with it when driving. The AA led the campaign for tougher enforcement and strict rules to stamp out this offence, but it seems too many fear missing out on their notifications. The best thing to do is convert the glove box into a phone box and keep the mobile out of reach.”

Your honour

The numbers reflect only those drivers who decided to go to court in England and Wales.

This means they do not include drivers who were given a fixed penalty at the side of the road.

Motorists found using a mobile phone while driving face six points on their licence and a £200 fine.

However, new drivers who passed their test within the last two years face an immediate ban from driving.

Since 2011, the number of casualties caused by drivers distracted by their mobile phones has increased by a quarter.

In 2020, 17 people were killed, 114 people were seriously injured, and 385 were slightly injured in road traffic accidents in Great Britain where the driver was using a mobile phone.

However, reporting causes for crashes often fail to report potential mobile phone use as a contributory factor.

It has also been well reported for over a decade that all the research shows that using hands-free phones while driving is equally dangerous and very similar in effects to drunk driving.

Utilising new camera technology, the DfT warns that more than 50,000 drivers use hand-held mobile phones while behind the wheel every day.

I screen , you screen…

Ministers moved to change the law after several court cases in which drivers were acquitted because their offence was outside the scope of the law.

“Since 2003 mobile devices have become capable of performing many more tasks beyond interactive communication. They are used to play music and games, take photos or videos, or scroll through articles,” the government said, adding that the “array of functions that mobile phones can now perform has outgrown the wording of the offence and its parameters”.

At the time the law was updated, Grant Shapps, then the transport secretary, said: “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 the changes received considerable publicity, hand-held mobile phone use behind the wheel appears to be a significant issue.

According to a recent AA survey, more than two in five (44%) drivers say they continue to use their mobile phones while driving.