Driven to distraction

Mobile phone rules around the world

Australia: Using a hand-held phone while driving is not allowed. Fines vary across states. The use of hands-free phones in vehicles is being reviewed.

Belgium: Driving while talking on a phone has been banned since July, 2000.

Denmark: Hand-held mobile phone use banned since July 1998 with a 500 kroner (€67) fine. No ban on hands-free phone use.

France: Hand-held mobile phone use while driving banned since April, 2003. Drivers are fined €35 if caught.

Germany: Complete ban on mobile phone use while driving introduced February 2001. Use of hands-free phone only allowed when engine is switched off. The fine is €30.

Italy: Hand-held mobile phone ban introduced in July, 2003. Drivers receive a four-point penalty on their licence (maximum 20 points) if caught using a mobile phone while driving.

Portugal: Hand-held and hands-free mobile phone use while driving is banned.

Spain: Since 2002, only fully hands-free phones permitted in vehicles (no earpieces or headsets). The fine is up to €91.

Sweden: Mobile phone use while driving is not banned. A report commissioned by the government on the issue reported that conversation, rather than the phone, was the cause of greatest distraction to a driver.

UK: Hand-held mobile phone use banned since December 1st, 2003. Drivers receive an on-the-spot fine of £30 (€44), £1,000 (€1,464) if it goes to court. Hands-free not banned but drivers risk prosecution if found not to have proper control of the vehicle while using a hands-free phone.

US: New York is the only US state that has a complete ban on the use of hand-held mobile phones while driving (introduced in November 2001). There is no ban on the use of hands-free phones.