Anyone wearing smartwatch while driving issued warning - £200 fine risk
Drivers have been urged to be aware of the rules that could result in a fine and penalty points.
Millions of people use their smartwatches, and they work as a great alternative to reaching into their pockets for their phones. However, there is a time and a place that the smart gadgets should not be used - and UK drivers have been warned that using them whilst on the road could result in fine.
The RAC found that 40% of drivers own a smartwatch, rising to 73% among younger drivers. However, the breakdown experts claim that if it is on your wrist, the law treats it exactly the same as a sat-nav or a phone in a holder.
In a video uploaded by the RAC, a team member said: "While glancing at your smartwatch isn't automatically illegal, looking at it, using voice commands or touching it are all potential distractions."
It comes as new research found over a third (34%) of drivers admit they've actively used them while driving.
They added: "If the police think you are using your watch as a handheld device, you could be charged the same penalty as using your mobile phone. That's a minimum of six penalty points and a £200 fine."
The penalty can be reduced if the police can't prove you were using the watch but were still driving without proper control of your vehicle. Circumstances become much more serious if your smartwatch was the reason your vehicle harmed a person or damaged another vehicle, the Mirror reports.
Police could charge you with either careless driving or dangerous driving.
RAC road safety spokesperson Rod Dennis added: "In 2022, the Government introduced stricter rules, making any interaction with a handheld mobile phone while driving illegal. Before this, the device had to be used for communication purposes, which made it harder for the police to prosecute.
"The case of smartwatches is perhaps an example of technology outpacing legislation. With so many drivers admitting to using smartwatches at the wheel, lawmakers need to get ahead of this issue - and clarify precisely what constitutes ‘use’ of a smartwatch while driving.
"As smartwatch ownership becomes the norm for younger drivers, their use on the road is only likely to grow. This makes it all the more important that legislation and enforcement are clear, consistent and future‑proof."
