Police operation More than every third person in Bonn with cell phone at the wheel
Bonn · Bonn police checked 125 vehicles on Wednesday - in 49 of them the drivers were using a smartphone or other electronic device at the wheel. Other violations were recorded as well.
According to Bonn police, 125 vehicles had been checked up until Wednesday afternoon as part of a NRW state-wide campaign. 46 motorists and three truck drivers used electronic devices including mobile phones while driving and they were pulled over, according to a report. They now face a fine of 100 euros and a point in Flensburg, a German system which records major driving violations and can result in a temporary driving ban. In addition, police officers handed out warning fines for 25 other infringements. Two persons were not allowed to drive on, because they were without a valid driving license. A 34-year-old was under the influence of drugs, and a 60-year-old under the influence of alcohol.
The Rhein-Sieg police also took part in the campaign and carried out "increased checks" throughout the entire district, as a spokesman said in response to a GA inquiry. The number of violations in the Rhein-Sieg district was still unclear in the afternoon.
Police campaign targets cell phone use at the wheel
The campaign to combat cell phone use at the wheel was a nationwide effort. Police throughout Germany were looking for anyone driving with cell phone in hand, even drivers who were typing or reading text messages while driving. Those who were caught were pulled over and asked to pay a fine. It is the first nationwide operation of this kind, and the complete results are expected to become available on Thursday.
NRW Interior Minister Herbert Reul (CDU) accompanied one of the operations in Neuss. "Mobile phones at the wheel cost human lives and destroy livelihoods. Using a cell phone (while behind the wheel) is just as dangerous as driving with more than 0.8 alcohol in your blood. People must understand this", said Reul. The number of traffic accidents caused by such distractions has been rising sharply for years.
Drivers not aware of the dangers of cell phone use
Reul said that there are drivers who believe they are acting responsiblly by not drinking and driving, but they use a mobile phone at the wheel without giving it a second thought. "Most people are not aware of the dangers of this bad habit.”
Police recorded around 167,000 mobile phone use violations last year. Nearly 25,000 of them were people on bikes, who are also not allowed to use a cell phone while in traffic.
The police in NRW had already taken part in a nationwide initiative last September with more than 500 checkpoints and 1600 police officers. 1700 motorists and cyclists were caught. While motorists are fined 100 euros for cell phone violations, cyclists pay 55 euros.
Orig. text: Alexander Hertel (with material from dpa)
Translation: ck
