- The clampdown on motorists using phones to call and text began in April
- It also extends to using mobiles as satnavs, drivers are warned ahead of holiday
- Max. penalty has doubled to £200 and six points for more experienced drivers
- Drivers who have held their licence for less than two years can be disqualified
Using a mobile phone to navigate in the car could result in a ban and a £200 fine for the driver, police chiefs have warned.
A clampdown on motorists using phones to call and text that began in April also extends to using mobiles as satnavs, drivers are warned as the bank holiday exodus gets underway.
Though it is not illegal to run a navigation app while driving, motorists can face prosecution if they touch the device while at the wheel.
Using a mobile phone to navigate in the car could result in a ban and a £200 fine for the driver, police chiefs have warned
Drivers who have held their licence for less than two years can be disqualified, while the maximum penalty has doubled to £200 and six points for more experienced road-users.
A spokesman for the National Police Chiefs Council said: ‘If an officer determines that a driver using their satnav hindered their ability to control the car, the driver could face prosecution.’
These warnings expose inconsistencies between the more lenient penalties for using a traditional or built-in satnav and the harsher punishments involving mobile phone use.
Drivers who have held their licence for less than two years can be disqualified