France tightens penalties for smartphone use while driving

Several regions in mainland France are set to introduce stricter penalties for drivers using smartphones at the wheel, including the immediate suspension of driving licences in certain cases, as part of new road safety measures coming into force from May 1, 2026.

The rules will be enforced through prefectural decrees in the departments of Landes, Pas-de-Calais, Lot-et-Garonne, and Charente-Maritime. Under the new measures, drivers caught using a mobile phone during roadside checks may face on-the-spot licence revocation, Caliber.Az reports via French media. 

A driver may have their licence revoked if they are caught using a phone whilst driving during a roadside check.

The national police stress that mobile phone use while driving remains one of the leading causes of road accidents, significantly increasing the risk of collisions.

Any active use of a mobile phone whilst driving is prohibited, including holding the device in one’s hands. Headphones are also banned, though GPS navigation and hands-free calls are permitted when used safely.

Authorities in Charente-Maritime said the initiative is aimed at reducing road fatalities, while noting that similar enforcement in the Landes region has already resulted in hundreds of licence suspensions.

Licence suspension can last up to six months and be extended in the event of further offences.

Under existing national rules, drivers across France face a €135 fine and a three-point penalty for mobile phone use while driving. However, the Ministry of the Interior has not commented on whether the stricter regional measures could be extended nationwide.

By Sabina Mammadli