Why using your phone while in the passenger seat could land you £200 fine and three points

British motorists have been warned that using their mobile phone while in the car could land them a £200 fine and six penalty points - and they don’t even have to be driving.

It is common knowledge that it is illegal to use your phone while behind the wheel, but lesser known is that you can still be punished while in the passenger seat.

Drivers could face the punishment if they are using a phone while supervising a learner.

While instructing a learner you are legally responsible for the car, therefore all road laws that apply to you while driving apply to you as an instructor in the passenger seat.

It is therefore illegal to touch your phone while in the car if you are an instructor and applies to both professionals and friends and family teaching someone to drive.

Neil Greig, IAM RoadSmart Director of Policy and Research, said: "Supervising a learner actually puts you in the driving seat so legally you must treat it in the same way as if you were behind the wheel.

"Learning to drive is stressful enough without a passenger beside you who is more worried about posting than parking."

Certain road laws will, however, not apply to the instructor while supervising a learner.

For example, if the learner breaks the speed limit, it will be their licence that receives the fine and penalty points and not the instructor.

Punishments for using your phone while driving  increased in 2017 to £200 and six penalty points, to act as a deterrent to motorists.

British drivers face the joint highest punishments for mobile phone offences in Europe.