Bilbao Municipal Police to Monitor Mobile Phone Use While Driving

The campaign, running until October 11th, aims to raise awareness about distraction dangers and correct risky driving behaviors.

A blurred close-up of a smartphone screen displaying a GPS map, held by a hand partially visible, with a car's dashboard and steering wheel out of focus in the background.
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A blurred close-up of a smartphone screen displaying a GPS map, held by a hand partially visible, with a car's dashboard and steering wheel out of focus in the background.

The Bilbao Municipal Police has initiated a special surveillance and control campaign targeting the use of mobile phones and other electronic devices, such as GPS navigators, while driving. The initiative began today, Monday, and will continue until Sunday, October 11th.

The campaign's primary objective is to correct behaviors that pose a risk to road safety. Studies have shown that when a person talks on their mobile phone while driving, they fail to identify 40% of traffic signs and signals, their average speed drops by 12%, and their reaction time to unforeseen events is reduced.
The risk is not solely associated with talking on the phone but also includes checking who is calling, reading or sending messages, or using applications. Essentially, any use of the device is considered incompatible with the constant attention required for driving.
A similar level of danger arises when using headphones connected to audio devices while driving. These regulations also apply to individuals riding bicycles or personal mobility devices like electric scooters.
Investigations into traffic accidents have highlighted the significant role of distractions while driving and the frequent involvement of mobile phone use, identifying it as one of the most censurable behaviors concerning road safety.
Consequently, since March 2022, the number of points deducted from driving licenses for using a mobile phone while holding the device has increased to six points.
For vehicles where helmet use is mandatory, current regulations permit using a mobile phone by positioning it between the helmet and the driver's head, resulting in a deduction of three points in such cases.
Based on information from the official source: Ayuntamiento de Bilbao (05/10/2026)