Jeremy Clarkson Fumes At 'Mad' New Highway Code Rules
Jeremy Clarkson has ranted about the new Highway Code rules that come into force on Saturday (29 January).
The new rules mean drivers will be liable for an on-the-spot £200 fine for scrolling or tapping their phone while behind the wheel - even to change a song.
Clarkson, 61, told The Sun: “Seriously? If your random playlist decides to fill the car with Arctic Monkey noises and you really aren’t in the mood, you are no longer allowed to swipe the screen to make it stop.
"Are the people who write these laws mad? Because almost all human beings are capable of doing two things at the same time."
A Department for Transport spokesperson has said the laws are being brought in to ease the prosecution process for someone caught using their phone while driving.
But the former Top Gear host said if men can read newspapers on the loo and women can have sex while thinking of Brad Pitt, drivers should be able to change music in a traffic jam.
Other new rules in the updated Highway Code include a ban on driving with a dirty licence plate as it may stop the authorities from identifying your car.
That could land you with a £1,000 fine, so be careful when driving through those country puddles.
Because all use of phones behind the wheel is illegal, the code also bans the act of paying with a phone when ordering at a drive-thru.
Clarkson has recently launched into a feud with an Australian YouTube star over a trademarked phrase.
Alex Apollonov called Clarkson out on Twitter after discovering he had submitted a trademark application for the phrase he uses as his YouTube channel name.
Clarkson has since denied knowing anything about the trademark.
But government records prove an application was submitted in October last year by Clarkson's company.
Apollonov, who has 2.68 million subscribers, said he was willing to take appropriate legal action if his YouTube channel experienced any problems resulting from the trademark.
Topics: Jeremy Clarkson
Charlie Metcalfe