Brits warned that sat-nav error could bring £200 fine and six points
The warning comes after several drivers were pulled over on the M1 motorway for a range of similar offences.
Drivers have been warned that one sat-nav habit could lead to six penalty points and a £200 fine. You’ll also lose your licence if you passed your driving test in the last two years. If you do not have a full view of the road and traffic ahead due to the placement of your sat nav, you could also receive three penalty points. If you are taken to court over the offence you could receive an outright driving ban and a maximum fine of up to £1,000 or £2,500 if you are driving a lorry or bus.
Nottinghamshire Police has issued a warning for drivers using mobile phones to navigate. Drivers are being urged to ensure their device is appropriately mounted and to avoid touching it during their journey.
It’s illegal to hold and use a phone, sat nav, tablet, or any device that can send or receive data, while driving or riding a motorcycle. This means you must not use a device in your hand for any reason, whether online or offline.
The law still applies to you if you’re stopped at traffic lights, queuing in traffic, supervising a learner driver, driving a car that turns off the engine when you stop moving and also applies if you're holding and using a device that’s offline or in flight mode.
You can use devices with hands-free access as long as you do not hold them at any time during usage. The device must not block your view of the road and traffic ahead.
The warning by Nottinghamshire Police comes after several motorists were pulled over on the M1 motorway for a range of similar phone offences.
Each was spotted on the M1 motorway by the crew of an unmarked HGV during a regular pre-planned operation between October 12 and October 16.
Of the 101 drivers pulled over, 46 were dealt with for either calling, texting, navigating or otherwise interacting with their mobile phones at the wheel.
Four of them were driving HGVs and therefore putting other road users at additional risk.
Many of the drivers dealt with for mobile phone contraventions were observed interacting with maps and navigation apps, with their phones either in their hands or secured in cradles.
Police officer explains the mobile phone driving law
Sergeant Jim Carrington, of the Roads Policing Team, said: "The good news is that more and more drivers now understand that holding a mobile phone at the wheel is not acceptable.
"The bad news is that there are clearly others out there who think they can interact with a device held in a secure mount.
"As several drivers have just found out to their cost, that is simply not the case, because if you are searching for an address or looking for an alternative route, you are not paying proper attention to the road in front of you.
"The same goes for searching for a particular song or skipping the adverts in your favourite podcast.
"Both actions may seem innocuous, but they can each have catastrophic consequences for you and other road users.
"So, if this sounds like you, please take a moment to think about your habits behind the wheel and the potential consequences of your actions.
"At best, those consequences could be a fine and points on your licence; at worst, they could lead to a lengthy prison sentence."
