Drivers have been warned they could be hit with £200 fines and penalty points for breaking vital safety rules on UK roads this week.
The warning comes as millions of children return to school this week following the end of the summer holidays, with cars now repopulating the roads.
As the roads become busier, experts have urged drivers not to break mobile phone rules while behind the wheel, which tends to spike at the beginning of September, data shows.
Experts revealed that drivers engage in more mobile phone interactions at the start of the new school year compared to the rest of September.
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Reports see cases of distracted driving spike during the first week in September
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According to research, screen interactions in vehicles peak by five per cent in the first week of September, with drivers at higher risk of penalties during this period.
The first Tuesday of the month has historically been recorded as having the biggest jump in distracted driving compared to the rest of the week.
Toby van der Meer, CEO of Hastings Direct, said: “The start of the school year is a hectic time for many families. There is a clear pattern of increased phone use behind the wheel, posing a serious risk to road safety.
“We urge all road users to resist the temptation to multitask and to stay fully focused while driving. Staying alert not only helps prevent accidents but also helps avoid the sometimes-devastating consequences that follow them.”
Drivers can face hefty penalties for using a mobile phone behind the wheel, including up to six penalty points and a £200 fine.
In more serious cases, drivers can also lose their licence completely if they have passed their test within two years and built up more than 12 penalty points.
If the case is taken to court, drivers can be banned and slapped with a maximum fine of £1,000, or £2,500 if driving a lorry or bus.
The expert added that Hastings Direct has seen how telematics plays a vital role in promoting safer driving by “providing real-time feedback and encouraging more mindful behaviour behind the wheel”.
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“Through data-driven insights, drivers can better understand and improve their habits, helping to create safer roads,” he shared. Mr van der Meer has now urged drivers to stay focused and reduce screen interactions to help keep roads safe.
Data found that nearly half (44 per cent) of UK driving trips involve a driver being distracted by their phone, including interacting with the screen, answering or placing calls, with a shocking more than five per cent of cases occurring on roads at over 50mph.
William Powers, co-founder and CEO of Cambridge Mobile Telematics, commented that back-to-school week should be an exciting time for families, “not one to worry about distracted driving dangers on the road”.
Mr Powers stated: “CMT’s data shows distracted driving rises during school hours, when children are most vulnerable. By highlighting these risks with Hastings Direct, we want to help drivers stay focused and keep kids safe.”
The Highway Code prohibits drivers from using mobile phones while behind the wheel
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GETTYOn top of breaching road rules, drivers caught on a mobile device while behind the wheel also break a key Highway Code rule.
Rule 149 details how drivers must “exercise proper control of your vehicle” at all times while on the road and avoid using their mobile phone.
It added: “This ban covers all use of a hand-held interactive communication device, and it applies even when the interactive communication capability is turned off or unavailable.
“You MUST NOT pick up the phone or similar device while driving to dial a number and then put it in the cradle for the duration of the conversation. You MUST NOT pick up and use your hand-held phone or similar device while stationary in traffic.”