New drivers with less than 2 years experience will now lose their driving licence if they are caught using a phone. The change in the law in the use of using a mobile phone whilst driving was changed on March 1st 2017. Penalties for using a phone doubled to six points on a licence. Which means new drivers have to revert back to learner driver status. Taking their Theory and driving test again.
Police forces have started a seven day crackdown on drivers using their phones whilst driving. A hand held phone cannot be used even if stopped at traffic lights.
You can use your phone to listen to music if connected to a hands-free holder or via Bluetooth. A phone can be checked provided you pull over to a safe parking place and the engine is turned off.
Driving instructors and anyone supervising a learner driver cannot use their phone whilst the teaching vehicle is being driven by a learner driver.