On Sunday, September 7, the UK government is testing the nation's emergency alert system by sending out a notification at around 3pm. It will cause affected phones to emit a loud, siren-like noise for around 10 seconds and vibrate as a message is displayed on the phone screen with instructions on what the alert is about and the next steps people should take.

Because this is a test, people will not need to react to the notification and will be able to dismiss it. However, drivers need to be cautious, as the normal rules of the road still apply during the test.

Road safety expert Sarah Jenkins explained that drivers on the road who dismiss the alert themselves risk a £200 fine and other severe penalties. The My Car Reg Check expert 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."

She urged motorists to be prepared by taking some steps ahead of the alert, such as ensuring their device is securely fastened to a legally placed mount if they're using hands-free satellite navigation. Be mindful around the time, stay calm when the alert goes off at 3pm and avoid touching your phone. If the alarm does startle you, pull over safely as soon as possible.

Then put the car in park and switch off the engine before interacting with your device. If you're driving with a passenger, they are allowed to dismiss the alert for you, but you cannot interact with your device while driving.

Sarah warned new drivers to be extra cautious around the alert: "Remember six points within two years means your licence is gone." Using your phone while driving, even if you're dismissing the alert, is illegal.

Drivers who are caught doing this face a £200 fine and six penalty points against their licence, this will mean it's an automatic revocation for new drivers. These fines can escalate to £1,500 for cars and £2,500 for lorries or buses if the case gets to court.

These laws still apply when the vehicle is stationary, such as when at traffic lights or at a standstill in traffic. Only genuine 999/112 emergency calls where it's unsafe or impractical to stop are exempt according to the expert.

The emergency alert system is built to warn the public about life-threatening situations like flooding or wildfires. The Government has confirmed this will affect all devices working on 4G and 5G phone networks, with around 87 million phones in the UK potentially receiving the alert.

Since the first test of the emergency alert system in 2023, five real alerts have been sent out. This included during major weather events like Storm Éowyn when an alert was sent out to those in red weather warning areas where there was a risk to life.