Fines for cell phone use while driving grew 160% in the first half of 2022 in the state of São Paulo, according to data released on Tuesday (12) by the São Paulo State Traffic Department (Detran-SP).
The survey shows that the first six months of 2022 had 140,451 infractions for using the device, compared to 53,964 in the same period last year.
In the capital alone, 109,121 drivers were fined for handling, using or holding cell phones behind the wheel between January and June this year, equivalent to 77.7% of the type of infractions recorded throughout the state.
With regard to the total of all fines applied in the state, infractions for cell phone use correspond to 12.5%, said the Detran-SP.
For comparison purposes, in the same period in 2018 this type of fine represented 6.1% of the total in São Paulo, and last year the rate was 6.9%.
According to the director-president of Detran-SP, Neto Mascellani Neto, “drivers need to understand that, like alcoholic beverages, mobile phones do not match driving. Safer traffic depends on everyone’s engagement”.
The infraction is classified by the Brazilian Traffic Code (CTB) as very serious and the driver who is fined for using a cell phone behind the wheel will have to pay R$ 293.47, and can still lose seven points on the National Driver’s License (CNH).
The fine can be accompanied by other types of assessments such as driving a vehicle without both hands at the wheel, with a value of R$ 130.16 and which yields another five points in the wallet.
Sending an audio, a message, handling the cell phone behind the wheel or even putting the device between your legs are actions that cause distractions and can cause accidents.
According to the World Health Organization (WHO), cell phone use while driving can increase the risk of an accident by 400%.
Source: CNN Brasil
