“When you’re looking at your phone, who’s watching the road?” That’s the hard-hitting question posed by the latest road safety campaign in France. Although the campaign takes a decidedly quirky and visual approach (featuring shocking images of drivers playing chess or chatting with passengers… perched on the hood), the underlying message remains grave: smartphone use while driving kills.
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A Common but Devastating Hazard
In 2023, the statistics are startling: one in ten fatal accidents is linked to driver distraction, and 25% of physical injury accidents are caused by a lack of attention. The mobile phone has become one of the top distractions. According to the 2024 Axa barometer, 80% of car drivers and 62% of motorcyclists admit to using their smartphones while driving.
While using GPS is the most common activity, riskier behaviors are on the rise: 15% of motorcyclists check social media while riding, and one in three car drivers sends or reads text messages while driving. Moreover, composing a simple text message while driving increases the risk of an accident by 23 times.
Hazardous Distractions
Road Safety authorities highlight that smartphone use causes four types of distractions simultaneously:
1. Cognitive: your mind is focused on what you are reading or listening to, not on the road.
2. Visual: your eyes leave the road, even briefly, to check a message or a route.
3. Auditory: your attention is on your conversation, not on the road sounds (horns, braking, etc.).
4. Manual: one hand leaves the steering wheel to hold the phone or type a message.
135 Euros Fine and a Loss of 3 Points
In France, the regulations are strict on this matter. Indeed, holding a phone in hand is prohibited, even when stopped. The use of earphones, headsets, and helmets (except those integrated into the vehicle or motorcycle helmets) is forbidden.
The penalties are severe: a 135 euros fine and a deduction of 3 points from the driving license. Moreover, if you commit another offense (speeding, not obeying traffic lights…), your license can be suspended immediately. In 2023, over 600,000 fines were issued for illegal phone use while driving.
Modified by Decree No. 2020-605 of May 18, 2020 – art. 10
The use of a handheld phone by the driver of a vehicle in traffic is prohibited.
The wearing in the ear of any sound-emitting device by the driver of a vehicle in traffic is also forbidden, except for electronic devices correcting deafness.
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The provisions of the second paragraph do not apply to drivers of priority vehicles of general interest as defined in article R. 311-1, nor in the context of teaching or testing the driving of mopeds, motorcycles, three-wheelers, and four-wheelers.
Any driver who violates these provisions is subject to the fine prescribed for fourth-class infractions.
Any driver guilty of this offense also faces an additional penalty of suspension of the driving license for up to three years, which may be limited to driving outside of professional activity.
This infraction automatically results in a reduction of three points from the driving license.