Germany Italy makes driving while on the phone really expensive

Driving too fast, using a cell phone at the wheel, one glass too many: on your next vacation in Italy, this can be really expensive. This Saturday, new rules on fines come into force in one of Germany's most popular travel destinations.

In future, drivers will have to pay at least 250 euros if they are caught making a phone call or chatting on their smartphone. For repeat offenders, the fine can increase to up to 1,400 euros and three months without a driver's license.

With the new rules, the government of right-wing Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni wants to reduce Italy's high number of more than 3,000 road deaths per year.

On a statistical average, this means 52 road deaths per million inhabitants - significantly more than in other large EU countries such as Germany (34), Spain (38) or France (48). The amendment to the Road Traffic Act naturally also applies to foreigners.