Hong Kong to Cap Dashboard Phones at Two From January 25, 2026

Two phones per dashboard under planned safety change

Hong Kong will limit drivers to two mobile phones on their vehicle dashboards from January 25, 2026, under a measure announced by Secretary for Transport and Logistics Mable Chan. The change targets distraction from crowded screens while allowing drivers to keep using digital tools for navigation, bookings and payments.

As of August 31, 2025, the legislative amendment is due to be tabled in the Legislative Council next month. Chan said the proposal seeks to balance road safety, the transport industry's operational needs and continuing technological development.

The change has particular importance for Hong Kong's 40,000 taxi drivers, many of whom depend on several devices to manage online orders and find their way around the city. Its scope, however, extends to all drivers. The government's concern is that screens, alerts and competing tasks can draw attention away from traffic even when a driver keeps both hands free.

The dashboard limit forms part of a wider transport programme covering passenger seat belts, child restraints and electronic taxi payments. Together, the measures aim to improve road safety and taxi service quality while making Hong Kong more convenient for residents and tourists.

Why mounted phones are coming under scrutiny

Hong Kong has prohibited the use of hand-held mobile phones while driving since 2000, with offenders facing fines of up to HK$2,000, about US$257. Existing restrictions focus on how a driver uses or holds a phone. Mounted devices and hands-free equipment have remained legal, leaving room for several screens to accumulate across a dashboard.

A phone fixed in a holder can still demand attention. A driver may glance at a booking, follow a map, check a payment notification or respond to an alert. With several devices running at once, those demands can compete with watching the road and responding to nearby vehicles or pedestrians.

The Transport Department warns that phone use can affect driving performance even with hands-free technology. A department spokesperson explained the risk to reaction times and urged drivers to keep their attention on driving:

Using a mobile phone while driving distracts drivers and affects driving performance, in particular reaction time in emergency or unexpected situations. For safety's sake, keep your hands on the steering wheel. Don't phone and drive.

Research worldwide has found that even looking at a screen for a few seconds can double the risk of a collision. Multiple devices can also increase the temptation to multitask. The concern is both visual distraction, when eyes move away from traffic, and cognitive overload, when several tasks compete for a driver's attention.

Chan acknowledged that taxi drivers often come to mind when people discuss crowded dashboards. The government's stated aim is to reduce that visual clutter and mental workload across the driving population, while allowing useful technology to remain part of daily transport.

Taxi drivers face a change in how they work

Taxi dashboards can carry smartphones and tablets serving different purposes: dispatching jobs, accepting bookings through ride-hailing platforms, providing navigation, processing payments and handling communications. Digital services have made those devices part of the working day for many drivers.

Some cabbies worry that reducing their dashboard setup to two phones could make it harder to manage work efficiently. The concern is especially strong during peak hours, when handling bookings from different platforms can affect income. Drivers may need to decide which functions deserve a dedicated screen and which can share a device.

The Transport and Logistics Bureau has engaged with industry representatives to help ensure the limit does not unduly disrupt taxi services. The government says it wants to balance convenience and safety while accommodating operational needs and technological progress.

An industry leader, expressing concerns raised by some taxi associations, called for practical guidance and support:

We understand the need for road safety, but many drivers rely on several devices to handle orders from different platforms. We hope the government will provide clear guidelines and support for transitioning to the new system.

The government has indicated a willingness to work with technology providers on integrated solutions that reduce the need for multiple devices. For drivers, this could mean bringing bookings, navigation or other functions together through apps that perform several tasks. The practical challenge is to retain access to essential services within a simpler dashboard arrangement.

How the limit builds on existing law

Regulation 42(1)(g) of the Road Traffic (Traffic Control) Regulations, Cap. 374G, already prohibits a driver from using a mobile phone while holding it in a hand or between the head and shoulder. A violation can bring a HK$2,000 fine.

The planned dashboard cap adds a restriction on the number of phones placed in front of a driver. It addresses the distraction created by multiple screens, including devices that are present but are not being actively used at a particular moment. Drivers will need to consider both their phone use and their dashboard setup.

The new rule is expected to be enforced through routine traffic checks and inspections, with penalties anticipated to be similar to those for existing mobile phone offences. The precise penalty for breaching the dashboard limit has not been specified in the announcement described here.

The legislative step is still ahead as of August 31. Chan's announcement sets out the intended start date and the two-phone limit, while the amendment is scheduled to go before the Legislative Council in September.

Seat belts and child restraints are also changing

Passenger protection is another part of Hong Kong's road safety programme. Alongside the dashboard restriction, measures taking effect in 2026 will require all newly registered buses and minibuses to have seat belts at every passenger seat. School buses will also be required to install belts for all seats.

The requirements address a different part of road safety from phone restrictions. Keeping a driver's attention on traffic aims to reduce the chance of a crash. Seat belts help protect the people inside a vehicle when a collision or sudden movement occurs.

From November 1, children under eight years old who are also shorter than 1.35 metres must use a child safety seat when travelling in a private car. Both age and height appear in the requirement, giving families a specific basis for checking whether a child needs a restraint.

The main announced milestones span several months:

• September 2025: The government plans to table the dashboard phone amendment in the Legislative Council.
• November 1: The child restraint requirement starts for children under eight and shorter than 1.35 metres travelling in private cars.
• January 25, 2026: The two-phone dashboard limit is scheduled to take effect.
• During 2026: The wider passenger safety measures include seat belts for every passenger seat on newly registered buses and minibuses, and belts for all school bus seats.
• April 1, 2026: All taxis must offer at least two electronic payment methods.

Taxis must also expand electronic payments

By April 1, 2026, every taxi must provide at least two electronic payment methods. The requirement responds to frequent complaints from residents and tourists about services that accept cash only.

For passengers, the change means having more ways to pay a fare. For drivers, it adds another digital requirement to a working environment already shaped by online bookings, navigation tools and communications. Payment systems are among the functions that some drivers currently manage through separate devices.

The payment deadline follows the scheduled dashboard limit by a little over two months. Drivers preparing for both changes will need to consider payment access alongside the screens they use for dispatch and navigation. Apps that combine functions may help reduce the number of devices needed.

The government's broader aim is to improve taxi service quality without allowing technology to crowd out road safety. Electronic payments address convenience, while the dashboard restriction addresses the demands that devices place on a driver's attention.

Vehicle modifications can affect compliance and insurance

Hong Kong also has strict rules governing vehicle modifications, including the installation of equipment inside vehicles. A change that affects compliance with safety standards can lead to fines, mandatory inspections or the loss of insurance coverage.

Drivers reviewing their dashboard arrangement therefore have more to consider than the number of phones. The way equipment is installed is also part of the vehicle's safety setup. The planned phone restriction sits alongside those existing requirements.

Insurance experts advise that illegally modified vehicles are not covered by insurance, while even legal modifications must be disclosed to insurers to maintain coverage. Drivers are advised to consult their insurer before changing the vehicle's interior setup, including adding or removing electronic devices.

For a taxi driver reorganising several screens, checking the mounting arrangement and insurance position can form part of the same preparation. The aim is to have a setup that meets the new device limit while continuing to meet vehicle safety and insurance requirements.

Where Hong Kong's approach fits

Other jurisdictions have also expanded their attention beyond the simple act of holding a phone while driving. Some restrict touchscreens, video displays and even certain functions operated by voice, reflecting concern about the many ways vehicle technology can compete for attention.

Hong Kong's approach is specific: it caps the number of dashboard phones rather than banning particular functions. That choice reflects a transport environment in which ride-hailing services and digital payments are closely connected to daily operations.

In the United States, the Department of Commerce has recently finalised rules banning certain connected-car software and hardware made abroad, citing national security and safety concerns. Those rules focus on cybersecurity, while Hong Kong's dashboard proposal focuses on driver distraction. Both place limits on aspects of the technology used in vehicles.

Hong Kong's transport changes also extend beyond devices. The city has announced plans to phase out private cars powered by fossil fuels by 2035, promote electric vehicles and expand public transport infrastructure. These initiatives aim to lower emissions and create a safer, more efficient urban environment, alongside efforts to reduce traffic accidents.

What drivers can do before January

Drivers can begin by counting the phones mounted on their dashboards and identifying which tasks each device handles. Anyone with more than two will need to plan a different arrangement before January 25, 2026.

Combining functions on one device, or using apps that perform several tasks, may reduce the need for separate screens. Taxi and ride-hailing drivers can ask their platform providers about integrated solutions that meet the planned limit while preserving access to bookings and navigation.

Drivers should also follow upcoming government guidance and information about support programmes for the transition. Those changing interior equipment should check with their insurer so that the revised setup does not affect coverage.

Public reaction has been mixed. Supporters welcome action against distracted driving, while some taxi and ride-hailing drivers worry about their livelihoods. The government's task is to improve safety while maintaining service quality and allowing drivers to earn a living.

The central adjustment is straightforward to describe but may take planning to carry out: fewer phones must handle the same essential work. Industry discussions, clearer guidance and integrated technology will shape how easily drivers can make that change.

Key Points

• Hong Kong plans to limit vehicle dashboards to two mobile phones from January 25, 2026.
• Secretary for Transport and Logistics Mable Chan said the amendment would be tabled in the Legislative Council in September 2025.
• The measure applies to all drivers and has particular importance for the city's 40,000 taxi drivers.
• Using a hand-held phone while driving has been prohibited since 2000, with fines of up to HK$2,000, about US$257.
• Related changes cover passenger seat belts, child restraints and at least two electronic payment methods in every taxi by April 1, 2026.
• Drivers should review their devices, consider combining functions, follow government guidance and check insurance requirements before changing their dashboard setup.