Drivers risk fines of up to £1,000 and six points for preordering from McDonald’s drive-thru queue

Drivers have been warned they could be hit with fines of up to £1,000 and six points if ordering on the phone while queueing for McDonald’s.

The response to McDonald’s reopening their drive-thrus has led to hour-long queues of Maccies fans desperate for a Big Mac. 

To speed up the process and make sure everyone had the chance to get their paws on some nuggets, McDonald’s put a £25 spending cap on orders and asked customers to order while they were queuing on the app. 

But, ordering food on your phone could leave you with a fine of up to £1,000 and even six points on your license if caught using a handset while driving, even if you are at a halt. 

The RAC has explained: “If your engine is running, your phone should be nowhere near your hands. This is still the case if the engine stops automatically to save fuel (called ‘start-stop technology).”

The law still holds true even if you are on private land – any road with free public access is covered.

The six penalty points for being caught on a handheld device while driving means that if you passed your test in the last two years you will automatically lose your license.

It’s unlikely that the police will be patrolling the long lines of McDonald’s fans, however, with some queues extending out on to busy roads causing jams, there has been some police officers spotted at Maccies recently.

The safest – and legal – way to order a McDonald’s while queuing is to get a passenger to do it for you.