Starting Monday, October 6, police across Germany and other European countries are stepping up roadside checks as part of the EU-wide “Roadpol Safety Week.”
The campaign, running until Sunday, October 12, focuses on a single message: “Focus on the Road.” Officers are watching closely for motorists and cyclists who use phones, tablets, or laptops while on the move.
Seconds of distraction can be deadly
Traffic researchers and police warn that even a split-second glance away from the road can be enough to cause a serious crash.
At highway speeds, a driver covers several dozen metres “blind,” leaving no time to react to sudden hazards.
Authorities hope the new campaign will remind drivers that distraction behind the wheel is one of the leading causes of accidents.
What is Roadpol?
Roadpol — short for European Roads Policing Network — unites traffic-police forces from EU member states with the goal of reducing deaths and serious injuries on Europe’s roads.
Throughout the week, officers will carry out thousands of random checks on drivers of cars, lorries, and bicycles to ensure compliance with mobile-device bans.
Fewer road deaths, but risk remains
According to the Federal Statistical Office (Destatis), Germany has seen a steady decline in traffic fatalities and severe injuries over recent years.
In the first half of 2025, there were around 1.21 million road accidents, a 2 percent decrease compared to the previous year.
Why accident numbers are falling
Experts credit a mix of factors:
- stricter legal limits on speed, alcohol and safety-equipment use (helmets, seatbelts, child seats)
- improved vehicle safety technologies, including collision-avoidance systems
- and better road-engineering and infrastructure.
Yet despite the progress, police emphasize that human distraction remains a persistent threat — one that campaigns like Roadpol’s aim to tackle head-on.
