Take the mobile, main offense
Although the number of points carried by the sanction for driving while holding mobile phonefrom 3 to 6 points, the results of the DGT confirm that we live glued to the smartphone and, unfortunately, not only when we are walking down the street or at home.
33.6% of the fines formulated by the agents of the Traffic Group of the Civil Guard are due to this infraction. Since the entry into force of the reform of the Traffic Law, which took place on March 21, 2022, holding the mobile phone supposes the removal of 6 points from the driving license and a fine of 200 euros.
This is how it is reflected in point 8, of Annex II, of the Traffic Law, which establishes the infractions that entail the loss of points: «8) Using, holding in your hand, mobile phone devices while driving: removal of 6 points from the license».
Of the 6,854 complaints filed between September 7 and 13, more than 2,300 complaints were for this reasonas shown by some of the cases that have been shared with recordings of reckless driving taken by helicopter.
Other fines for distractions
After the penalties for using the mobile phone while driving, The Next Most Punished Distractions during this period have been to fasten the seat belt while driving, with 581 drivers receiving a fine for this reason, the use of helmets or headphones connected to sound reproducing devices other than mobile phones (337 drivers), reading (207), the search for objects (98), being distracted by other vehicle occupants (85), or driving while eating (66).
In addition to these cases, the agents formulated 1,251 complaints for other infractions that caused distracted driving. During the week that the campaign has lasted, between the agents of the Traffic Group of the Civil Guard and numerous units of the Local Police, controls were carried out on 414,695 vehicles that circulated on interurban roads and they have carried out 8,199 controls in which they have denounced 6,823 drivers for engaging in distracting actions while driving.
These preventive controls have also made it possible to detect and punish 1,839 drivers who, in addition to having been reported for being distracted at the wheel, were driving with alcohol levels higher than the permitted level or tested positive for other drugs.
The General Directorate of Traffic reminds us once again that the risk of an accident is multiplied when we commit any of these distractions behind the wheel, with the danger it poses to our own integrity and that of other people and the data shows us that we are still being too reckless behind the wheel.