Nearly 10,000 drivers penalized this year for phone use while driving. INSP: "People underestimate the risk"
Nearly 10,000 drivers were fined for using their mobile phones while driving since the beginning of this year. Representatives of the National Public Security Inspectorate (INSP) warn that distracted driving puts both motorists and pedestrians at risk. The offence carries a fine of up to 600 lei and three penalty points.
"Today, we have reached a point where our entire lives are contained within a gadget—a mobile phone—yet people fail to realize the risks of using one while operating a vehicle. The number of instances where mobile phones are used while driving is on the rise," stated Chief Commissioner Pavel Apostol, head of the Road Accident Records and Analysis Section within the National Public Security Inspectorate (INSP), during "Bună Dimineața" on Moldova 1 TV.
He said they detect such violations through both traffic monitoring systems and patrol officers.
To document these incidents, authorities even employ drones, which allow them to observe driver behavior in traffic.
When is using a phone behind the wheel permitted?
Drivers may talk on the phone while driving only if they use a "hands-free" system, which lets them hold a conversation without holding the device.
Using a phone to send text messages, browse the internet, or watch videos distracts drivers and can lead to accidents. "The phone may only be used for calls, and only if the vehicle is equipped with a specialized system that allows for hands-free use—meaning you don't have to hold the phone in your hand. Only in such cases can we make phone calls while driving. In any other situation, holding the phone—which leaves only one hand on the steering wheel—is improper. It constitutes a violation," explained Pavel Apostol.
The expert pointed out that the risk increases with the vehicle's speed. When a driver shifts their gaze to a screen, the vehicle keeps moving, but the driver no longer actively monitors its path or its distance from other vehicles or obstacles.
"When we look at our phones—whether to type a message, 'like' something, or scroll through videos—the vehicle keeps moving, but its direction and the distance it covers are no longer being monitored. The higher the speed, the greater the distance travelled during these moments; consequently, the risk of being involved in a traffic accident increases," noted the INSP representative.
Pedestrians, too, must put away headphones and phones when crossing the street
Using a mobile phone can contribute to road accidents, even when the main cause is failing to check your surroundings properly when changing direction or switching lanes.
According to Pavel Apostol, in such situations, a driver distracted by their phone may fail to notice what is happening around them in time.
"No one can guarantee that, in such a scenario, you won't become the victim of a road accident. The worst part is that, beyond the person committing the traffic violation, an innocent party also suffers—a pedestrian who is crossing the road legally, at a designated crosswalk, but goes unnoticed by the driver because of a mobile phone," the police officer warned.
The danger is even greater in poor visibility, when drivers must be especially vigilant about pedestrians.
Even at low speeds, a collision with a vehicle can have serious consequences for a pedestrian.
The INSP representative emphasized that pedestrians also bear a responsibility; they should avoid using mobile phones or headphones while crossing the street. "Traffic regulations also prescribe rules for pedestrians. When crossing the roadway, they should not use mobile phones or wear headphones, as these prevent them from hearing ambient sounds and perceiving what is happening around them. Unfortunately, we encounter situations daily where pedestrians fail to follow these rules, thereby putting their own lives and well-being at risk", stated Pavel Apostol.
Fines and three penalty points for drivers
Using a mobile phone while driving is an offense punishable by a fine of up to 600 lei and three penalty points.
Authorities identify such violations through direct traffic enforcement or automated monitoring systems, and drivers can check whether they have been recorded for an infraction.
Preventive and enforcement operations are organized periodically, based on analyses of road accidents and the factors that contribute to them. According to Pavel Apostol, this issue is not unique to the Republic of Moldova; drivers’ overconfidence in their own abilities often leads them to underestimate the risks.
"Every day, we see news reports about road accidents occurring for various reasons, including the use of mobile phones. Yet, for some reason, we tend to believe that while an accident could happen to anyone else, it could never happen to us. Even when using a mobile phone, some drivers believe they remain in full control of their vehicle—but that is simply not the case," concluded the INSP representative.
