For the slightest violation of traffic rules with a mobile phone in hand while driving, one can now immediately lose their license
As RFI notes, until now driving with a mobile phone in hand was punished in France with a fine of 135 euros and the deduction of three penalty points (out of a maximum of 12). From now on, a driver stopped for illegal phone use may additionally have their license confiscated on the spot for three days, followed by revocation for six months or even a year.
Immediate and severe punishment awaits anyone who, "with a phone in hand," simultaneously violates other traffic rules. This includes speeding, crossing a solid line, failing to signal, improper overtaking, failing to yield to pedestrians, and many others. A long list of these "accompanying" violations was approved by a government decree on May 18. And as of Friday, the decree has come into force, the inter-ministerial committee on road safety of the French government reminded in a special statement.
The committee reminded that using a mobile phone while driving is the cause of one in ten road accidents with injuries in France.
Since May 22, one of the penalties for drivers caught driving under the influence of alcohol has also been tightened. As an alternative to license revocation in France for exceeding the legal blood alcohol limit, a ban on driving vehicles not equipped with an alcohol interlock device may be imposed. Until now, such a ban was imposed for up to six months. Now the penalty period has been extended to one year.
At the same time, authorities abolished the requirement, in effect since 2012, for every car to carry a breathalyzer. Initially, a fine of 11 euros was even imposed for the absence of a simple breathalyzer, then it was canceled, while maintaining the general obligation for drivers for preventive purposes.
Since May 22, a long-standing requirement for nightclubs and discos to provide customers with breathalyzer devices has been reinforced with a fine. This requirement applies to establishments that sell alcohol and operate from 2 a.m. to 7 a.m. For the absence of breathalyzers, they now face a fine of 135 euros.
The legal blood alcohol limit for driving in France is 0.5 g/l. A limit of 0.2 promille applies to young drivers aged 18-25.
18 decisive measures to enhance road safety were announced by the French government in January 2018. Since then, these measures have been introduced gradually. In 2019, road fatalities in France fell to a historically low level: 3,239 people died in road accidents in France (nine fewer than the previous year).