Mobile Phone Use When Driving Passengers

Holding and using a mobile phone or other data device while driving is illegal. The rule applies to professional drivers as well as motorists using their own cars, including while stopped at traffic lights or in a queue.

Carrying passengers adds a clear practical responsibility: a driver should give the road their full attention. A booking message or passenger enquiry does not provide an exemption from the handheld-device rules.

Hands-free access, such as Bluetooth, voice control or a securely mounted device, is permitted, but the driver must remain in control and keep a clear view. A hands-free conversation can still be distracting. Park safely before dealing with a call or task that would interfere with driving.

An offence can lead to penalty points, a fine, prosecution and, for a licensed driver, consideration of licensing action. The outcome depends on the facts and the applicable process; it should not be described as automatic immediate loss of a private-hire licence without warning in every case.

Smoking is not allowed in a licensed taxi or private-hire vehicle, even when it is not carrying a paying passenger. TfL’s published policy also extends its prohibition on e-cigarettes and vaping devices to these services. The statutory smoking restriction and TfL’s vaping policy should be distinguished, but both matter when maintaining an appropriate environment for passengers.