Highway Code warning to drivers over fine for using mobile phone to change music

dailyrecord.co.uk:

The new Highway Code rules' crackdown on mobile phone use goes as far as fining drivers for grabbing their mobile phone to change music.

New driving rules and guidance are coming into force tomorrow, Saturday January 28. Motorists will face stricter punishments for even touching their phone, Manchester Evening News reports.

Although it's already illegal to text or call while holding onto your mobile phone, the new law makes it an offence to use your phone 'under virtually any circumstance'.Anybody caught using their mobile phone - even at a red light or just to change the music - will be hit with a £200 fixed penalty notice and six points on their license.The warning comes ahead of the imminent changes to the Highway Code, which is set to shake up the hierarchy of people on the road, making it safer for more vulnerable users.Finance firm CarMoney's Andrew Marshall says: "More and more drivers are being caught out on the roads by unexpected fines.

The new changes to the Highway Code will place more responsibility on road users and it will be a criminal offence to disobey them."More publicised offences, such as making phone calls whilst driving, are already deemed unacceptable in our society but simple things such as throwing a cigarette out of a window are what we see on journeys every day, and often without consequence. "We are reminding road users to be considerate of other road users and obey driving laws for their own safety and the safety of others whilst travelling." New laws aimed at cutting out dangerous driving now state that people changing the song on their phone while they drive can be hit with a fine.This also includes doing things like taking pictures or videos.