The German Road Safety Council (DVR) is calling for fines of at least €500 for drivers who use a handheld phone at the wheel. The group also supports Transport Minister Steffen Bilger’s proposal to introduce cameras that can automatically detect whether a driver is holding a mobile phone while driving.

DVR president Manfred Wirsch said the prospect of violations being detected at any time could discourage drivers from picking up their phones. He described the cameras, known as Monocams, as a worthwhile investment in road safety.

Wirsch cited a trial in Trier where detected phone use while driving fell by around 70 percent. In Australia’s New South Wales, the number of violations has dropped by about 82 percent since 2019, he said.

The DVR pointed to Federal Statistical Office figures recording more than 1,100 injury-related crashes in 2025 in which electronic-device use was listed as a cause. The crashes resulted in 15 deaths, 199 serious injuries and 1,257 minor injuries. The figures cover electronic devices generally, not smartphones alone.

Wirsch argued that current penalties are too low, citing research that found collision risk from distraction by smartphones, touchscreens and other digital applications was higher than under a simulated blood alcohol level of 0.8 per mille. The DVR wants the fine raised to at least €500, the amount currently imposed for violating the 0.5-per-mille alcohol limit.

According to the ADAC, drivers caught making a phone call with a handheld mobile face a €100 fine and one point on their driving record. If the violation endangers others or causes a crash, the fine rises to €150 or €200; drivers also receive two points and a one-month driving ban.

Monocams take high-resolution images through a car’s windscreen, focusing on the area around the driver and their hand position. If the system detects both a mobile phone and a relevant hand position, it takes a picture, which trained police officers then review.

Phone calls while driving are not entirely prohibited, the ADAC says. Drivers may use a hands-free system, an installed vehicle system or a Bluetooth headset. Holding a phone or placing it to the ear while driving is prohibited.

Sources: Der Spiegel.