The GNR said in a communiqué that the “Smartphone, Smartdrive” operation aims to “contribute towards cutting the risk of accidents and encourage drivers to adopt safer behaviour”.
In the first four months of this year, the GNR caught about 9,000 drivers using a mobile phone when they were driving and last year it caught a total of about 22,000.
The GNR said that “the incorrect use of mobiles, tablets or similar devices to make calls, send texts on see social networks when driving involved serious risks such as visual distraction when drivers took their eyes off the road, limited movements (taking hands off the steering wheel and cognitive limitation as drivers got distracted”.
Pay attention to Portugese law regarding the use of mobile devices.
You are still liable to pay a fine if your engine is running whilst you are on your mobile (even if you are stationary)
You must come to a complete stop, switch off your vehicle and then use your phone.
Spot fine is between 120€ and 160€.
Delayed payment 600€
Best to put the phone on silent mode whilst driving.
By Rodwell van Wyk from Other on 07 May 2019, 22:00