Germany faces high distracted driving rates due to smartphone use

New reports from DEKRA and ADAC highlight a significant safety crisis in Germany caused by distracted driving, particularly through smartphone use. The DEKRA 2026 Traffic Safety Report notes that even minor tasks, such as adjusting a navigation system or sending a text, disrupt information processing and increase the risk of accidents. In 2023, the Federal Statistical Office of Germany recorded over 7,500 accidents involving personal injury where distraction was a confirmed cause.

An ADAC study conducted in major cities including Berlin, Frankfurt, Hamburg, Cologne, and Munich estimates that there are approximately one billion smartphone violations per year across Germany when extrapolated to total traffic volume. While police register about 400,000 cases annually, the actual number is significantly higher. The study found that 2.7 percent of drivers and 1.4 percent of cyclists and e-scooter users use smartphones while moving, often holding the device in their hands rather than using hands-free options. Experts warn that at 50 km/h, looking at a screen for just two seconds results in traveling approximately 28 meters essentially blind.