From now on in Ardèche, if you are caught holding a smartphone while driving, you will face stricter penalties than before. The prefect of the department, Benoît Trévisani, defends a measure that has sparked debate in France: starting June 1, using a phone while driving will not only result in a fine and penalty points but may also lead to an immediate license suspension.
For the prefect, the justification for this measure is indisputable. The number of road traffic deaths in Ardèche has reached a worrying level. In just the first few months of this year, 19 people have died on the department’s roads, matching the total number of deaths for the entire previous year. For the authorities, relying solely on existing penalties is no longer sufficient to address the problem.
Ardèche is a predominantly rural area of France, where many people depend on cars for travel, and public transport only plays a supplementary role in most non-urban areas. At the same time, winding roads and complicated routes characterize the local terrain. Even brief distractions can have serious consequences.
Previously, drivers using a phone while driving faced a €135 fine and a deduction of 3 points from their driving license. Usually, a license suspension was only considered if other traffic violations were found. But according to the new regulation, the relevant authorities in Ardèche can now directly administratively suspend a driver’s license for up to one month.
This decision is part of a broader strategy. In recent months, the prefecture has been reinforcing measures against dangerous driving behaviors under the slogan “zero tolerance for road safety.” Smartphones are seen as one of the biggest risk factors. Experts have emphasized for years that even a few seconds of distraction is enough to cause dangerous situations.
Ardèche is not the only French department to take such measures. Other departments have also introduced similar policies, with relevant authorities reporting a reduction in mobile phone violations. However, whether this effect can be sustained in the long term remains to be seen.
The new regulations may further fuel debates about traffic safety and personal freedom. But for the officials in Ardèche, what matters more is: every accident prevented, every life saved, is enough to justify the strict measures. The risk of looking at a mobile phone screen while driving far exceeds the amount of the fine.
Andreas M. B.