France delivers the hang-up message

France has taken the lead on the world’s strictest mobile phone use laws, banning any contact with your mobile device until the vehicle is parked in a designated area or space with the engine off. The recent court ruling follows increasing fatalities on French roads, with the road toll peaking in 2016 with almost 3500 people losing their lives in cars. In Australia, the rules regarding phone use behind the wheel are already almost as tough, though Aussie drivers can handle their phone if pulled over at idle on the side of the road.