France expands licence suspensions for drivers caught using phones behind the wheel
The interior ministry will now impose administrative licence suspensions for any driver holding a phone, even without speeding or other offences.
Facing a record of 3,515 traffic fatalities in 2025, the French interior ministry is tightening penalties for phone use while driving. Marie-Pierre Vedrenne, minister delegate for Citizenship, explained that the new policy makes the mere act of holding a phone an administrative offence, punishable by licence suspension decided individually. The instruction, also signed by Laurent Nuñez, calls for a uniform application across departments, with existing pilots showing an average suspension of fifteen days.
In the Landes region, the rule has been active since November 2025, resulting in 300 suspended licences during its first quarter and a reported 12% drop in phone usage while driving. Officials argue the measure targets all drivers, not just repeat offenders, to curb the growing danger of distracted driving.
Why it matters
Stricter penalties aim to reduce distracted-driving deaths by deterring phone use behind the wheel.
How the sides frame it
LOW AGREEMENTLeft-leaning coverage emphasizes Hungarian police increasing roadside checks to curb driver distraction, while right-leaning coverage highlights France tightening licence-suspension penalties to address traffic fatalities.
LEFT
Frames the story as a proactive safety check campaign aimed at reducing accidents caused by brief driver distraction.
RIGHT
Frames the story as a stricter punitive measure targeting phone-holding while driving to curb a rising death toll.
The left emphasises
- increase roadside checks
- monitor motorists who handle smartphones, read messages, browse social media, or view any visual or textual content
- aim is to curb accidents caused by brief moments of driver distraction
The right emphasises
- record of 3,515 traffic fatalities in 2025
- new policy makes the mere act of holding a phone an administrative offence, punishable by licence suspension
- reported 12% drop in phone usage while driving
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