by Alex Bowden July 18 2019
A recent poll found that 70 per cent of French motorists admit to having used their mobiles while driving. Another poll found that six per cent use their phones while driving on the motorway, including 15 per cent of truck drivers.
The Telegraph reports that a new measure, due to be introduced in autumn, would see driving licences confiscated if a driver is found to have broken a traffic rule while using their mobile phone at the wheel.
“If you forget to put your indicator on, which is very frequent among people on the phone, or drive over a white line a Stop sign or go through a red light, all these offences when coupled with using a mobile will allow police to confiscate your licence,” said French road safety boss, Emmanuel Barbe.
“We don’t wish to deprive anyone of their licence for months on end,” he added, implying that in most cases the confiscation would only be temporary.
A 2017 RAC survey found that up to nine million drivers could be habitually using their phones at the wheel in the UK.
Offenders currently face six penalty points and a £200 fine, but this can rise to £1,000 and a driving ban with a court appearance (£2,500 for lorry or bus drivers).
