Cell phone behind the wheel? Cuxhaven police warn of deadly distraction!

Cell phone behind the wheel? Cuxhaven police warn of deadly distraction!

In recent years, the police have repeatedly pointed out the dangers of using cell phones while driving. In Cuxhaven, for example, the police often observe drivers looking at their smartphones while waiting at the traffic lights. Such inattention can have fatal consequences, as traffic safety consultant Birte Heimberg explains. “It's not worth dying for your cell phone,” she insists. The use of electronic devices while driving has been prohibited since 2017, and a violation can be quite expensive. CNV Media reports that there are corresponding penalties, which include a 100 euro fine and one point in Flensburg if you use your cell phone while driving. If the risk of endangering others increases, the fine can increase to up to 200 euros and a one-month driving ban.

However, the number of unreported violations is likely to be higher than the 1,121 cases registered in 2024. Confusing figures also show that nine accidents in the same year were clearly due to distraction, with one death and several injuries as a result. This is where the urgency of avoiding distractions becomes particularly clear.

Road traffic controls

A new control duel took place at the end of October 2025; a call was made across Europe on the topic of distraction in road traffic. From October 6th to 12th, the Roadpol network carried out a large-scale control operation targeting motorists, cyclists and truck drivers. The ADAC provides information that the motto “Focus on the Road” was at the forefront of this year’s campaign. Road users should be made aware of the dangers of distraction, because just looking at their cell phone for three seconds at 100 km/h is equivalent to flying blind for a huge 100 meters.

The advice to avoid distractions is clear: cell phones should be placed out of sight, and passengers should feel responsible for alerting the driver to cell phone use. Phone calls and messages should only be made while stationary, and navigation devices should also be set up correctly before driving.

Extensive studies prove the problem

The dangers of using cell phones in traffic were also proven by a comprehensive study carried out on behalf of the Federal Highway Research Institute (BASt). BASt describes that over 200,000 road users were observed in this study. Researchers found that 7.4% of pedestrians and 4.9% of car drivers actively used their smartphones, leading to an increased risk of distraction. What is particularly striking is that younger users under the age of 25 use their cell phones most often in traffic, while older people do so less often.

Significant differences in the use of smartphones arise not only from age, but also between genders. Men use their cell phones while driving more than women. The results of these observations show that there is a need for action to further minimize the risk of distraction. Future measures should be aimed primarily at young and male drivers in order to increase road safety.