Drivers across the UK face potential £200 fines this Sunday during a nationwide emergency alert test. The alert will reach phones across the nation on September 7, creating a legal risk for motorists who respond incorrectly while behind the wheel.
Touching a mobile phone while driving during the emergency alert constitutes illegal phone use while driving. This puts drivers at immediate risk of penalty points and financial consequences if they attempt to silence or acknowledge the alert whilst on the road.
Driver safety guidance
The safest response for drivers is to completely ignore their phones when the alert sounds, according to road safety guidance from Bristol Post. Motorists should continue driving normally and only check their devices once they have safely stopped and parked.
WalesOnline reports five specific steps drivers should take during the emergency alert test. These include maintaining focus on the road, avoiding any phone interaction, and waiting until completely stationary before addressing the alert.
Legal consequences
The emergency alert system testing forms part of national emergency preparedness protocols. Existing mobile phone driving laws apply fully during the test period, meaning standard penalties for phone use while driving remain in force.
Road safety experts emphasise that the brief inconvenience of an unacknowledged alert far outweighs the serious legal and safety risks of phone handling while driving.
Sources used: "Mirror", "WalesOnline", "Bristol Post" Note: This article has been edited with the help of Artificial Intelligence.
