Driving while holding a cell phone in one hand and the steering wheel in the other is never a good idea, but in most parts of southern Europe it’s also against the law.
We’ve all seen the scenario: an accident waiting to happen as a driver, phone in one hand and more intent on their conversation than on the road, whizzes past us. While few states ban using hand-held mobile phones while driving, many other countries do – and more are joining the ranks.
In Greece, Italy, Portugal and Spain, it is against the law to drive while talking on the phone unless you have a hands-free phone. Period. And they enforce the law. In Italy, for example, each offense can bring a fine of 100 Euros (about $130).
In addition, if you are involved in an accident in any of these countries and were on the phone at the time, it is considered as contributory negligence, no matter who was responsible for the accident. That means that if you are driving while talking on your phone and someone runs into you, you are considered partly to blame.
So when renting or buying a cell phone to use in Europe (remember that US and Canadian phones work on a different system and will not work there), be sure to get a headset that fits it. Or make sure that only the passenger uses it while the car is in motion (or, in some places, when the engine is running).
As a practical matter, using a cell phone while driving in a foreign country – where you may not be as familiar with road signs and driving habits – is even more dangerous than it is at home. So you probably wouldn’t want to so it even if it were not against the law.
