In the province of East Flanders in Belgium, your driver’s license will be confiscated if you are behind the wheel of your phone. This was reported by the Public Prosecution Service (OM) in East Flanders in a press release. East Flanders takes an example from Halle Vilford, where the rule has been in effect since May 1 this year. In the rest of Belgium, you will only be fined if you text or call behind the wheel.

4500 wounded

Prosecutors in East Flanders are seeing an increase in the use of mobile phones in traffic. According to the Vias Institute, eight percent of fatal accidents are related to cell phone use while driving, which is estimated to lead to about 50 deaths and 4,500 injuries each year. “

Fine

In the Netherlands, you will be fined 350 euros if you talk while driving with your phone in your hand. According to the Netherlands Public Prosecution Service, there are approximately 600 victims each year, both in terms of fatalities and inpatients, in traffic due to contact while driving.

Focus on the traffic

Should your driver’s license in the Netherlands also have to be taken away if you use your phone behind the wheel? Fellow D thinks you should never do anything else behind the wheel, except drive. “Sometimes I look in the rearview mirror and see a girl applying mascara behind the wheel.”

warning

In the Netherlands, you will only be fined, and a warning may help too. This way you can also punish people and there’s a good chance they won’t do it again.

Twitter Comments

Marjet compares texting behind the wheel with closing your eyes for 3 seconds. Dangerous >> adjective.

Looney wants everyone to keep their attention on the road.

Sunny would rather miss a meeting than cause an accident.

Join the conversation

Do you think you should also hand in your driver’s license in the Netherlands if you are behind the wheel on your mobile phone? Or do you think they should first warn you of a heavy fine before they take your driver’s license? Join the conversation on our website Facebook page†