If you use your phone as a sat nav you could be fined £200 If your car doesn’t come with a factory-fitted sat nav system – and you don’t have a standalone unit – […]

If your car doesn’t come with a factory-fitted sat nav system – and you don’t have a standalone unit – you might be tempted to use your phone’s navigation features while driving as an alternative.

However, police have warned that drivers caught doing this could be landed with a £200 fine and six penalty points.

And that’s just the automatic fixed penalty notice. If the case goes to court, the penalty could be higher still.

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Tough new laws were brought into force a year ago aimed at discouraging motorists from using their phones on the roads and this extends to using their devices as sat navs.

Any new drivers who are caught, and have only passed their test within the last two years, will automatically lose their license.

Is it worth it?

A police spokesman said: “One second is all it takes to lose focus and in that one second, your life could change forever.

“Is it really worth the fine and points on your licence? New drivers, is it worth losing your full licence?”

“Taking your eyes off the road to check a text, or change a song on your phone, or send a picture, could have devastating consequences.

“Is it really worth the fine and points on your licence? New drivers, is it worth losing your full licence? I’d argue it isn’t and I’d urge all motorists to think twice before using a handheld phone.”

So unless you can guarantee that you won’t touch your phone while on your trip, you could be at risk of breaking these new laws.

However, drivers can use hands-free phones to navigate their way but they must be set up properly before setting off. If at any point you need to touch your phone then pull over to do so.

No obstruction

Drivers who are deemed as not being in control of their vehicle, even if using a hands-free phone, can be prosecuted for that.

The AA has also warned that drivers must keep their phone in a location where it does not obstruct their view.

This means motorists placing them into a holder attached to a windscreen must make sure that it does not obstruct their view.

Drivers wanting to play it safe should keep their phone in the glove compartment and use a regular sat nav.

Paying for it

In recent years services like Apple Pay have led to many consumers using their phones to pay for goods and services. For that reason, it’s not just phone calls, texts and map services that users run a risk using while driving. Paying for a toll or drive-thru meal could also risk the same penalty as other mobile use – regardless of the fact you tend to be stationary while doing so.

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