Motorists all over the UK are at risk of being slapped with a £200 fine at 3pm this afternoon as the Emergency Alert test is heard across the country. At exactly 3pm, mobile phones will shriek and vibrate for 10 seconds as part of the Government’s Emergency Alert System preparation.
The message is unlikely to have an impact on anyone enjoying Sunday afternoon from their own home or out with friends. However, drivers could be seriously affected due to the risks of being distracted while behind the wheel and tough rules around touching a device. Simply pressing a phone to cancel the warning is against the rules if individuals are in control of a vehicle, with fines of £200 possible if caught out.
The DVSA has reminded motorists of the message, posting on X: “On Sunday 7 September 2025, the government will be carrying out an emergency alert test at 3pm. You will hear a loud siren-like sound for around 10 seconds – the message lasts 20 seconds. If you get an alert, you don’t need to do anything.
According to the Government, the alert is programmed to come through even if a mobile phone device is set to silent mode. It means road users who proactively silence their phones in a bid to avoid distractions will be unable to escape the warning.
As well as touching phones, the short, sharp beep could distract road users, shocking them into taking their eyes off the road and losing concentration.
Sarah Jenkins, Road Safety Specialist at My Car Reg Check, said: “Emergency Alerts are there to save lives — but behind the wheel, the safest response is no response. If you hear the siren, keep your hands on the wheel and eyes on the road. Don’t risk a fine, points, or worse, an accident. Wait until you’re parked safely with the engine off before checking your device.”
National Highways told Express.co.uk that road users should not pick up a phone or attempt to deal with the message while driving. Instead, they urged individuals to continue driving as normal and always stay in full control of a vehicle at all times.
AA president Edmund King added: “We support the testing of the Emergency Alerts system, which is an important tool the government uses to keep people safe in a crisis.
“On the day, drivers should simply stay calm and focus on the road. As always, only check your phone when you’re parked safely with the engine turned off.”
