Overview

• Hand-held phone use of any kind, including screen illumination or unlocking, has been illegal since 2022.
• Brief interactions with well-secured in-car navigation apps such as Google Maps, Apple Maps or Waze are under fresh scrutiny by police.
• Touching a cradle-mounted device does not automatically break the law, West Yorkshire Police clarify.
• Drivers deemed distracting by officers can still face careless driving charges with similar penalties to phone offences.
• Motorists are urged to pre-set routes and avoid on-the-go device use to prevent fines, penalty points or bans.