Photo: DPAThe Bundesrat (German upper house of parliament) signed off on laws on Friday which impose far harsher punishments on reckless driving. The government has cited road racing and impeding emergency services as causes for the tougher laws. Up until now German law has allowed for a €400 fine and a month-long driving ban for anyone who takes part in an illegal road race. If using one’s phone leads to an accident, the fine will be increased to €200, with a driving ban of a month. “Whoever looks at their phone while driving is travelling blind and puts other people’s lives at risk,” said Transport Minister Alexander Dobrindt.

Source: The Local September 22, 2017 14:48 UTC