NI Driving Rules
Can a passenger use a hand held phone in a car in Northern Ireland?
Yes. The hand-held-phone driving restriction applies to the driver, not an ordinary passenger.
Yes. The hand-held-phone driving restriction applies to the driver, not an ordinary passenger.
nidirect expressly lists being a passenger as a situation in which hand-held phone use is permitted.
Passengers should still avoid distracting the driver, particularly in heavy traffic or difficult road conditions.
Research & verification
Sources checked for this answer
We use official and primary sources wherever possible rather than relying on generic AI-generated information.
Information checked:
25 September 2026
