If you use your phone while in the passenger seat of a car you could be fined

It has been illegal to use your phone while driving since 2003 but it wasn't until 2017 that laws became stricter.

The fine and penalty point endorsements doubled to £200 and six penalty points if you were caught.

The dangers of using your phone while driving are widely publicised and there are regularly initiatives coming into place to outlaw the use of them while on the go.

There is also evidently a lack of knowledge or full understanding of the law and its restrictions still in the UK.

In the RAC Report on Motoring 2016, almost half (47 per cent) of motorists said that they believed it was okay to check their phone or use social media while stopped in traffic.

However, even if you are stationary in traffic or stopped at a set of traffic lights then you can still be fined.

In fact, it is illegal to touch your phone at any point when you're behind the wheel.

One lesser known clause of the law could also see you land a fine while sat in the passenger seat of your car.

If you are supervising a learner driver and are sat in the passenger seat of your car then you could be fined the full £200 and six penalty points.

The person supervising the learner is responsible for the car, and therefore, all the road laws that apply to a driver equally apply to the instructor, despite them being in the passenger seat.

It doesn't just apply to qualified specialists it can also apply to a friend or family member supervising a driving lesson.

To be able to supervise a leaner you must adhere to a certain set of criteria.

• Be at least 21 years old
• Have a full driving licence (for the type of vehicle they are supervising in – manual or automatic), which must have been held for a minimum of three years
• Ensure the car is in a safe and legal condition
• Meet the minimum eyesight standards
• Ensure the car displays L Plates (or D Plates in Wales) if a learner is driving
• Have lots of patience.

Phones can be used if they are attached to a hands free device.

It is also advisable to take a driver assessment or advanced driving course to refresh your own skills and knowledge before you start supervising a learner

Ensure that you are fully up to date with the latest edition of The Highway Code

There are instances where you can use your phone while driving but there are also a number of rules you must stick to, to allow this.

Firstly the device must be hands-free and you must not touch it while on the go. Here is a list of hands-free devices you can use.

• a bluetooth headset
• voice command
• a dashboard holder or mat
• a windscreen mount
• a built-in sat nav

There are only two instances where you can use your mobile phone while driving.

These are if you’re safely parked or if you need to call 999 or 112 in an emergency and it’s unsafe or impractical to stop.