LifestyleMotoringWearable technologyDrivers have been told that 'the rule is simple'14:39, 13 Jul 2026Millions of smartwatches are used daily in the UK as personal fitness and health trackers or as convenient alternatives to pulling your phone from your pocket. But there is a time and a place where using these handy gadgets could result in a fine.‌The RAC found that 40% of drivers own a smartwatch, rising to 73% among younger drivers, indicating that they are becoming more common on UK roads. However, the breakdown service claims that, if it's on your wrist, the law treats a smartwatch exactly the same as a sat-nav or a phone in a holder.‌In a video uploaded by the RAC, a team member said: "While glancing at your smartwatch isn't automatically illegal, looking at it, using voice commands or touching it are all potential distractions." It comes as new research found over a third (34%) of drivers admit they've actively used them while driving.‌They added: "If the police think you are using your watch as a handheld device, you could be charged the same penalty as using your mobile phone. That's a minimum of six penalty points and a £200 fine."The penalty can be reduced if the police can't prove you were using the watch but were still driving without proper control of your vehicle. Circumstances become much more serious if your smartwatch was the reason your vehicle harmed a person or damaged another vehicle.Content cannot be displayed without consent‌The police could charge you with either careless driving (not exercising due care) or dangerous driving (driving in a way far below the standard). The RAC said: "The rule [for smartwatches] is simple - if it distracts you, don't do it. Set your watch to do not disturb and drive safely."RAC road safety spokesperson Rod Dennis added: "In 2022, the Government introduced stricter rules, making any interaction with a handheld mobile phone while driving illegal. Before this, the device had to be used for communication purposes, which made it harder for the police to prosecute."The case of smartwatches is perhaps an example of technology outpacing legislation. With so many drivers admitting to using smartwatches at the wheel, lawmakers need to get ahead of this issue - and clarify precisely what constitutes ‘use’ of a smartwatch while driving.‌"As smartwatch ownership becomes the norm for younger drivers, their use on the road is only likely to grow. This makes it all the more important that legislation and enforcement are clear, consistent and future‑proof."How to set up 'Do Not Disturb' mode for drivingEnabling these settings depends on the kind of device you have. Once these options are enabled, your smartwatch will stop lighting up, vibrating, or showing text alerts until you reach your destination‌Apple uses a feature called Driving Focus to silence notifications automatically:Open Settings and select FocusAdd Driving: Tap the + (plus) icon in the top right corner and choose Driving.Set Activation: Tap 'While Driving' under the "Turn On Automatically" section.Android Devices (like the Google Pixel, Samsung and Galaxy Watch) use Driving Mode to automatically silence your watch and phone when you are in a moving vehicle:Article continues belowFor Google Pixel: Open Settings, tap Safety and Emergency, then select Silence notifications while driving. Toggle the switch to On.Samsung Galaxy: Open Settings, enter Modes and Routines, then select Driving. Tap 'Turn on automatically' and choose to activate it via Car Bluetooth or Smart detection.Choose Daily Mirror as a 'Preferred Source' on Google News for quick access to the news you value.‌AppleAndroidDangerous drivingSat-navsmartwatchesCarsWearable technology