Like many motorists, you may use a GPS application on your smartphone when you get behind the wheel. Whether it is Waze or Google Maps, which rose to the top of downloads this year in the United States, navigation software has become a lasting part of the habits of motorists. More practical than a road map, updated in real time… the main advantage of navigation apps lies without their participatory aspectwhich allows users to directly report an incident, a traffic stop or a slowdown on the road.
What does the law say?
On paper, navigation applications like Waze are authorized by the Highway Code. However, there are specific rules regarding their use. Concerning the use of the telephone, the fact of hold your smartphone in your hand is punishable by a fixed fine of €135 and a withdrawal of three points from the driving license. It is therefore necessary to keep the device within sight, without having to handle it. Even there, not everything is permitted. Consulting or handling your phone is also prohibited and is subject to the same penalties.
In the case of GPS on a smartphone, do the same rules apply? In this specific case, you must refer to article R. 412-6-2 of the Highway Code, which governs screens placed in the driver's field of vision. So, “a device in operation with a screen and not constituting a driving or navigation aid is prohibited“, specifies the regulations.
Beware of the fine
Your phone can therefore be used to follow the road, provided it is placed on the windshield, near an air vent, or on the top of the dashboard. Be careful, however, to ensure that the screen displays the GPS application. No question of using it for anything elseunder penalty of sanction, which could amount to a fine of up to €1,500, and three withdrawal points on the driving license.
-In the case of participatory applications like Waze, be careful not to get too involved: leave the reporting of incidents to passengers, and concentrate on the road, because handling the smartphone remains prohibited. Generally speaking, and to avoid the slightest problem, the simplest and most effective solution is to connect your smartphone to the integrated screen of your vehicle if it has one. In this specific case, you will avoid the slightest sanction in the event of an inspection.
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