# Germany distracted driving safety and regulations > Live situation record from CLSTR: https://clstr.news/situations/germany-distracted-driving-safety-and-regulations > Updated: 2026-09-29T03:30:31.000Z. Sources: 5. Developments: 2. Reports from DEKRA and ADAC have identified a safety crisis in Germany regarding distracted driving, primarily driven by smartphone use. Data indicates that while police register approximately 400,000 cases annually, the actual number of smartphone violations may reach one billion per year. In 2023, over 7,500 accidents involving personal injury were attributed to confirmed distractions. In response to these safety concerns and existing regulations, German traffic laws under Section 23 of the Road Traffic Regulations (StVO) strictly prohibit drivers from holding mobile phones or other electronic devices for communication or information. Devices must be secured in a mount, and usage must be brief. Recent legal clarification from the Higher Regional Court of Cologne has extended these prohibitions to include interacting with touchscreens on e-cigarettes, classifying them as electronic devices that cause prohibited distractions. ## Timeline ### 2026-09-29: Germany driving laws restrict electronic device use German driving laws prohibit the handheld use of electronic devices. A court ruling clarifies that operating e-cigarettes with touchscreens can lead to fines and penalty points due to driver distraction. 2 sources. https://clstr.news/cluster/germany-driving-laws-restrict-electronic-device-use ### 2026-09-08: Germany faces high distracted driving rates due to smartphone use Studies by ADAC and DEKRA reveal a massive scale of distracted driving in Germany, with an estimated one billion annual smartphone violations contributing to high accident risks. 3 sources. https://clstr.news/cluster/germany-faces-high-distracted-driving-rates-due-to-smartphone-use --- Cite as: Germany distracted driving safety and regulations. CLSTR, https://clstr.news/situations/germany-distracted-driving-safety-and-regulations