Road safety specialists have welcomed moves to close a legal loophole that would make it illegal to use a hand held mobile phone for any purpose while behind the wheel.

A consultation launched by the Government sets out the plan to make it an offence to scroll through social media or a music playlist, take photographs or play games when on the move. Currently it is only illegal for motorists to use a mobile phone while engaged in ‘interactive communication’ such as making a call or texting.

The rule change will not affect the use of phones positioned in a cradle – such as those used to hold satellite navigation devices – or to use phones to make contactless payments at drive through restaurants. It is hoped that the tighter rules will make enforcement easier with police officers able to take action if they see a driver holding, tapping or scrolling a phone rather than having to question them about the nature of the phone's use.

“Closing this loophole is long overdue and is strongly welcomed,” said IAM RoadSmart's policy and research director Neil Greig. “Any form of hand held mobile phone use is dangerous and no one should ever actively engage in selfies or social media updates just because they thought they might get away with it due to poorly written laws.”

He added that Government’s next target should be to work in collaboration with social media platforms, car manufacturers and mobile phone network providers to reduce distraction from hands free calling.

Road safety charity Brake also welcomed the move to close the legal loophole, but added that the risks posed by hands free devices must also be addressed.

“The current law gives the impression that it is safe to use a mobile phone with a hands free kit when the evidence is clear that it is not,” said campaigns director Joshua Harris. “Banning hands free devices may be challenging but we urge the Government to prioritise the lives of road users and take action now.”

AA president Edmund King pointed out that phones do so much more than calls and texts, “so it’s only right that the law is changed to keep pace with technology”. He added that the rule changes could help to make the use of mobile phones behind the wheel as socially unacceptable as drink driving.

Transport Minister Baroness Vere said that for too long risky drivers have been able to escape punishment, “but this update will mean those doing the wrong thing will face the full force of the law”. But Ministers rejected calls to go further by banning the use of hands free functions.

The proposed tightening of the law came as new research commissioned by the Department for Transport and carried out by the University of Leeds looked at the behaviour of 51 drivers. Footage showed that over 765 trips, 662 mobile phone interactions were observed with only 38 completely hands free.

National Police Chiefs' Council lead for roads policing Anthony Bangham said: “Using a mobile phone while driving is incredibly dangerous and being distracted at the wheel can change lives forever.

“Police will take robust action against those using a hand held mobile phone illegally and proposals to make the law clearer are welcome.”