Question to the Department for Transport:

To ask His Majesty's Government whether they will consider specific penalties for drivers who are caught watching videos on their phones while driving.

If a driver is watching a video on a hand-held mobile phone, this is an offence which attracts a fixed penalty notice of £200 and six penalty points. If the case goes to the magistrates court the maximum fine is £1,000 (or £2,500 for bus and lorry drivers).

If a driver is watching a video on a mobile phone secured in a cradle, this is also an offence; the sanction is a £50 fixed penalty notice and a maximum fine of Level 3 on the standard scale if the case goes to court. There are also more general road traffic offences that the police can potentially use in cases where a driver is watching a video on a mobile phone in a cradle, for example, driving whilst not in proper control of the vehicle or driving without due care and attention.

We keep offences and their penalties under review.