Full list of times UK motorists are legally allowed to use their mobile phone while drivingThere are four exceptions whereby using a mobile phone while behind the wheel is permittedA woman texting on her phone whilst driving. According to figures published by the RAC last year, 15,300 drivers were prosecuted for using a handheld mobile phone in the UK in 2023. In the previous year, 22 people were killed and 674 injured in road traffic collisions where a driver using a mobile phone was considered to be a contributory factor. Drivers must never use a handheld device when behind the wheel, even if it is offline or in flight mode. As outlined in the Highway Code, there are four exceptions whereby using a phone while behind the wheel is permitted.