From Monday 5 to Sunday 11 October 2026, traffic police forces in the countries belonging to Roadpol, the European Roads Policing Network, will carry out coordinated checks as part of the “Focus on the Road” operation, aimed at combating distracted driving, with particular attention to the use of mobile phones and other electronic devices. The campaign targets all motor-vehicle drivers, including those driving industrial vehicles and buses. It covers the handheld use of smartphones, reading and writing messages or checking social media, using tablets and smartwatches, and operating screens and onboard multimedia systems when these activities divert attention from driving. Roadpol coordinates the timetable and common message of the campaign, but inspections, penalties and enforcement tools remain governed by the rules and procedures of each country, meaning that there is no single European enforcement methodology. The planned model is based on simultaneous and highly visible checks: patrols concentrated in areas where exposure to risk is greatest, including motorways, major roads, urban junctions and intersections, together with direct observation, roadside checks and, where permitted under national law, technological enforcement tools. Enforcement activities are accompanied by prevention and communication initiatives, while Roadpol’s Operational Working Group collects and compares data and best practices.
For drivers of industrial vehicles, distraction goes well beyond phone calls. In the cab, it also includes messaging, managing navigation apps, operational communications, onboard terminals and other work-related devices. The professional use of phones and delivery-management systems makes it necessary to distinguish essential communications from those that interfere with safe driving. In this respect, setting the navigation system before departure and planning stops also become tools for complying with the rules. The European Road Safety Observatory of the European Commission reports that almost one driver in three says they have spoken on a handheld phone while driving, while almost one in four has read messages or checked texts and social media behind the wheel.
Using a handheld phone is associated with a collision risk approximately 2.5 times higher. Typing, reading and composing messages increase reaction times, cause lane deviations and make drivers more likely to fail to notice other road users. The Commission points out that distraction is not limited to smartphones: it also includes interaction with passengers, eating, adjusting multimedia systems and other activities carried out while the vehicle is moving. The campaign forms part of the EU objective of halving road deaths and serious injuries by 2030 compared with reference levels, as part of the path towards Vision Zero.
This week’s checks do not replace inspections covering driving and rest times, tachographs, loads, vehicle weight and technical roadworthiness, which are the main focus of the Truck & Bus operation. The next campaign will take place from 16 to 22 November 2026.
