The Flemish Foundation for Traffic Engineering (VSV) and police are launching a road safety campaign to deter motorists from using their phones while driving by using unmarked police trucks, which has so far led to 220 drivers being fined this year.
"If you are on the phone while driving, you are four times more likely to get into a traffic accident," which increases to 12 times "if you are sending a text," states Graham Verschaeve, the Deputy Head of Operations of the Federal Road Police, to the Flemish outlet Het Nieuwsblad.
The deputy's words are further backed up by figures showing that distracted driving due to phone use accounted for 50 deaths and 4,500 injuries in 2021.
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As a result, the VSV is launching a 'hands-free' road safety campaign to deter motorists from using their phones at the wheel, with the help of unmarked police trucks and hefty traffic fines.
Indeed, these trucks, popularised in the Netherlands, allow officers to carry out anonymous checks on cars from a higher position and subsequently catch drivers on their phones. Having been in use throughout this year, 220 motorists have been penalised, some for using their phones, others for failing to wear a seat belt.
Additionally, once caught, drivers face a fine of €174 and even risk having their licences revoked by the Public Prosecutor's Office.
