The National Republican Guard (GNR) is on the road to monitor the use of headphones and the use of mobile phones, smartphones, tablets, or similar devices while driving.
The “RoadPol – Mobile” operation is taking place from this Monday until October 14, across the entire continental national territory, and aims to alert drivers to the negative and potentially fatal consequences of improper mobile phone use while driving.
In a statement, the GNR mentioned that this is “a road traffic enforcement operation focused on the use of sound headphones and handling of mobile communication devices during driving, in order to promote road safety”.
According to the statement, “the handling and use of mobile phones, smartphones, tablets, or similar devices while driving causes visual distraction, limits manual availability, and affects cognitive processing”, the same source adds.
The GNR also reports that according to a study by the Portuguese Road Safety Authority, nearly 75% of Portuguese people admit to using their mobile phones while driving, and there are several consequences related to the multitasking that mobile phone use during driving causes, namely: Decreased driver vigilance and attention distraction; Increased reaction time; Poor assessment of vehicle positioning on the road; Difficulty in decoding and memorizing signals; Disrespect for the right-of-way rule; Failure to maintain a safe distance; Failure to signal a change of direction; Poor speed assessment.
It is worth noting that fines for using a mobile phone while driving increased in January 2023, ranging from €250 to €1250, in addition to resulting in the loss of three points on the driving license.
