According to the police, holding a telephone or recording device while driving is the second most frequently scored offense after speeding. Police statistics say that in 2022, 62,154 drivers were fined for using their phones, which is around 170 offenders a day. Moreover, according to the company Aures Holdings (AAA Auto, Mototechna, Auto Diskont), according to experts, the phone is to blame for up to 10,000 accidents a year.
Until the end of 2023, a person caught in a “telephone crime” can win a fine of 1,000 on the spot and two points on his account. If the person in question goes to administrative proceedings and loses, then again two points and a patch of 1,500 to 2,000 CZK await.
Photo: Michal Jirák
In police statistics, using a mobile phone while driving is the second most frequently scored offence.
The New Year’s strike (2024) will be different, however, as there is a risk of a fine of 2,500 to 3,500 CZK and 4 points on top of that. If the given driver loses the administrative proceedings, he will not lose four points again, but he will suffer financially by 4,000 to 10,000 CZK.
In addition, don’t forget that you can only fill up your points account up to 12 points, i.e. call three times with a mobile phone in your hand, get caught and go to hand in your driver’s license for a year.
The legal solution is to use a hands-free kit to make calls, whether it’s an older assembly kit like Parrot or FM transmitters, or in more modern vehicles, use built-in/aftermarket bluetooth. It is also legal to have a mobile phone in a holder (you don’t hold it in your hand), to control it by touch and to use a speakerphone call, which, however, will not be of very good quality.
But what if the vehicle stops and stands still? A double stop must be distinguished here. The first – to stop the vehicle – means that the driver has stopped regardless of his reason, for example because of traffic lights, a queue or before a crossing. Then having a mobile phone in your hand is tantamount to breaking the rules.
Photo: Michal Jirák
The phone behind the wheel, and not only calls, but also social networks and other manipulations, is simply distracting, which often leads to driving in the opposite direction and accidents.
For example, if you go to a gas station, stop and stand there, then you can legally operate the device. Just think about where you stop and stand, because taking a call on the freeway in the stop lane is both dangerous and illegal.
Finally, we would like to draw your attention to calling via hands-free kits and bluetooth. Just because they’re legal doesn’t mean they’re safe to drive. On the contrary, they distract you as a driver and delay your reaction time, by a second to a second and a half, which in some cases is too long.
