Smartwatch users in France face growing legal risks for interacting with their devices while driving, even though the French Highway Code does not explicitly name smartwatches. Recent enforcement trends and new regulations targeting mobile phone use are extending to how drivers interact with their wrist-worn technology, potentially leading to fines, point deductions, and even immediate license suspension.
Authorities are applying existing traffic laws based on the driver's actions and whether they compromise safe driving. Selectra, reporting on October 7, 2026, and Radio Vinci Autoroutes, on December 7, 2025, both highlighted that sanctions hinge on the driver's conduct rather than the device itself.
One avenue for penalties stems from Article R412-6 of the Highway Code, which mandates that drivers maintain a proper driving position and be able to perform all maneuvers easily and without delay. Violating this article, for instance by taking a hand off the wheel to interact with a smartwatch, can result in a €35 fine. While this particular infraction does not lead to points being deducted from the driving license, it could potentially result in the vehicle being immobilized, as Selectra stated on October 7, 2026. Radio Vinci Autoroutes and The Connexion, in reports from December 7, 2025, and November 20, 2025, respectively, noted that officers can also issue tickets for "dangerous driving" in such scenarios. This type of charge has historically been applied in various situations where a driver's attention or control was compromised, such as holding a sandwich or smoking while driving.
Another relevant regulation is Article R412-6-2, which prohibits placing a functioning screen, not considered a driving aid, within the driver's field of vision. If a smartwatch screen is deemed to distract in a similar manner, it could potentially lead to a more substantial fine of up to €1,500 and a deduction of three points from the driving license. This interpretation was noted by Selectra on October 7, 2026, and Ariase on March 26, 2019.
The most severe risks for smartwatch users emerge when interaction with the wrist-worn device leads to the use of a handheld mobile phone. Selectra reported on October 7, 2026, that while a smartwatch on the wrist is not literally "held in hand," if the act of using the smartwatch prompts a driver to pick up their phone, it falls under the stricter regulations for handheld phone use. The Ministry of Interior has explicitly stated that merely reading a message on a smartwatch and then picking up the phone to reply is sufficient to fall into this more serious category. The Court of Cassation clarified in 2011 that "usage" of a handheld phone means "activating any function by the driver on the device they are holding in hand," a definition that underpins current enforcement efforts.
Using a handheld mobile phone while driving in France carries a fine of €135 and a deduction of three points from the driving license. This penalty structure was consistently reported by The Connexion on November 20, 2025, Ariase on March 26, 2019, and Devis on April 18, 2026.
A significant development in French traffic law, generalized as of October 2026, is the immediate license suspension for certain infractions. Since 2020, if a driver commits another infraction, such as crossing a solid line or running a red light, simultaneously with using a phone, the prefect can immediately suspend their driving license for up to six months. This immediate license suspension for smartphone use has now been generalized across France, as reported by Le Figaro, Franceinfo, and Sud Ouest on October 3-5, 2026. The Ministry of Interior confirms that this provisional license suspension, which can range from 15 days to 6 months, specifically targets drivers "holding a mobile phone in their hand," further emphasizing the critical link between smartwatch interaction and subsequent phone use.
Official French government information, cited by The Connexion on November 20, 2025, underscores the profound safety implications. Using a mobile phone while driving triples the risk of a collision. The act of reading a message, which typically takes a driver's eyes off the road for at least five seconds, makes a collision 23 times more likely.
While current laws are being adapted to address new technologies, it is anticipated that existing driving laws may evolve further to specifically prohibit smartwatch use, similar to how regulations were introduced for other screens (beyond GPS) and earphones. This forecast was shared by The Connexion on November 20, 2025, and Radio Vinci Autoroutes on December 7, 2025. The precise definition of what constitutes "long" usage of a smartwatch, as opposed to a brief glance, remains subject to the interpretation of law enforcement officers, as noted by Braceletsmartwatch.fr on October 4, 2022.