Ardèche Tightens Penalties for Using Mobile Phones While Driving

Privas – 02.06.2026: From June 1, 2026, in the French region of Ardèche, immediate license suspension will be introduced for drivers caught using their phones while driving. This measure aims to improve road safety and reduce the number of accidents.

The decision was made by Benoît Trévisani, prefect of Ardèche, and follows a series of serious road accidents in 2026. Until the end of May, the department had recorded 19 road deaths, equal to the total of the previous year. A particularly tragic episode occurred in Vernosc-lès-Annonay, where five young people died.

The new regulation provides that drivers caught with a phone in hand while driving risk immediate administrative suspension of their license. This measure is in addition to the sanctions already in place, which include a fine of 135 euros and the deduction of three points from the license. The duration of the suspension can be up to six months, depending on the severity of the violation and subject to the case evaluation by the prefect.

With this decision, Ardèche joins other French departments that have adopted similar measures. Previously, Landes, Pas-de-Calais, Charente-Maritime, and Lot-et-Garonne had already introduced immediate license suspension for mobile phone use while driving.

The authorities emphasize that using a mobile phone while driving represents a significant risk factor in traffic. According to the French safety agency, reading a message while driving multiplies the accident risk by 23, as the driver averts their gaze from the road for an average of five seconds.

The introduction of this measure in Ardèche is part of a broader plan to improve road safety in the department. Besides tightening sanctions, enhanced controls and prevention campaigns are planned to raise driver awareness about the dangers of mobile phone use while driving.

The effectiveness of these stricter sanctions will be closely monitored in the coming months to verify whether they lead to a reduction in road accidents and related deaths. The authorities hope these measures will help to sustainably decrease the number of accidents in Ardèche.

Overall, the development in Ardèche reflects a trend towards more restrictive measures against mobile phone use while driving in France, with the goal of increasing road safety and saving lives.