MOTORISTS have been given an urgent warning that breaking this little-known driving rule could land you with a hefty nine points and a sizeable £1,000 fine.
Although many drivers now know that using a mobile phone while behind the wheel can land you with six penalty points and a fine, you can also fall foul of the law in another area as well.
A Safer Neighbourhood Team (SNT) with the police in High Barnet, London, recently caught a driver using their mobile along the High Street.
The force issued a warning on Twitter which read: “The driver of this vehicle was using mobile phone whilst driving on Barnet High Street.
“Caught by the High Barnet SNT on their patrols. Driver was only checking new notifications.
“Using Mobile carries a penalty of 9pts with £1000 fine! People die as a result of actions such as this.”
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In the responses, one commentator though questioned this, writing: “Lovely work but since when does a mobile offence result in 9 points and a £1k fine? Isn’t it 6 points and £200?”
However, the High Barnet SNT responded and explained how it worked: “You can get 6 penalty points and fine if you hold and use a phone, sat nav, tablet, or any device that can send and receive data while driving or riding a motorcycle.
“And also 3 points for driving without due care and attention whilst driving.”
It comes after comparison site confused.com revealed the most common offences Brit drivers had been done for.
Repeat offenders run the risk of driving up their car insurance costs – or even having their licence revoked completely.
By far the most common offence is speeding – especially when caught out on a public road.
Over 2 million motorists have points on their licenses for speeding, which is twice as many as all other offences combined.
1. Exceeding statutory speed limit on a public road - 2,158,179 drivers
2. Exceeding speed limit on a motorway – 444,153 drivers
3. Using a vehicle uninsured against third party risks – 194,984
4. Failure to give information as to identity of driver – 100,892
5. Exceeding goods vehicle speed limits – 65,301
6. Failing to comply with traffic light signals – 51,350
7. Breach of requirements as to control of the vehicle, such as using a mobile phone – 49,083
8. Driving without due care and attention – 28,285
9. Driving otherwise than in accordance with a licence – 27,142
10. Using a vehicle with defective tyre(s) – 21,617
Exceeding the speed limit on a motorway came in second place at around 440,000 offences.
Speeding on the motorway carries a harsher penalty, and if prosecuted in court you could even be fined over 150 per cent of your weekly income.
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Third on the list was driving without insurance, which is a criminal offence.
Just under 195,000 drivers have points for this offence, which carries a punishment of a £300 fine and 6 penalty points.
