The consultation, which closed on 14 August 2025, proposed making it an offence to take photos or videos, scroll through playlists, or play games on a handheld device while driving - bringing Northern Ireland in line with the rest of the UK.  

The Department is now considering the responses and is expected to publish its outcome in due course. 

Thompsons Solicitors Northern Ireland also mirrors the stance taken by the Association of Personal Injury Lawyers (APIL) in response to the consultation, which called for clearer, stronger laws to tackle driver distraction and improve road safety. 

As part of their response, APIL reported that in 2023, 71 people were killed and 880 were seriously injured in road traffic collisions in Northern Ireland. Mobile phone use is also recognised as one of the ‘Fatal Five’ offences by the Police Service of Northern Ireland - the key causes of road deaths and serious injuries. 

Speaking earlier this month in her capacity as APIL’s Northern Ireland representative on the Executive Committee, Sabrina Lawlor, Regional Manager of Personal Injury and Senior Lawyer at Thompsons Solicitors Northern Ireland, said: “It’s currently not an offence in Northern Ireland to take photos and videos, or scroll through music playlists on phones while driving. We see the terrible, sometimes life-changing, consequences of road crashes caused by negligent motorists, including drivers distracted by their mobile phones. 

“The Government needs to take this opportunity to make the law catch up with technology, and send a strong message to motorists that it is not OK to touch your phone while driving. 

“We think the legislation also needs to make it clear that anything which involves touching the phone, even when it’s in a holder, could fall with the offence. Any distractions at the wheel can have catastrophic consequences. 

“Motorists should always have ‘driving mode’ activated on their phones while on the roads too. It works like ‘airplane mode’ when flying, and disables apps and notifications, other than the sat nav, limited music features and calls when handsfree, keeping distractions to a minimum. 

“We now look forward to the Department publishing its decision and hope to see legislation introduced swiftly.”