Drivers in Hungary can expect stepped-up police checks next week, as authorities launch a nationwide operation targeting mobile phone use and other forms of distraction behind the wheel.
The Hungarian police will carry out enhanced road safety checks between 5 and 11 October, focusing particularly on the use of mobile phones while driving, the National Police Headquarters announced on Friday.
The operation is being organised as part of the ROADPOL “Focus on the Road” campaign, a Europe-wide initiative coordinated by the European Roads Policing Network. Hungary has joined similar campaigns in previous years as well.
What will Hungarian police be checking?
During the operation, officers will pay increased attention to drivers using mobile phones while their vehicle is in motion, as well as to other activities that could distract them from the road.
According to police, this includes the use of electronic devices and viewing visual or written content while driving, as such activities can significantly increase the risk of accidents.
Authorities stressed that driving already requires a high level of concentration, and that any activity diverting a driver’s attention can pose a serious danger.
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More than 1,500 drivers were caught last year
The upcoming operation follows a similar nationwide ROADPOL campaign held in October 2025. During that one-week operation, Hungarian police caught 1,564 drivers using a handheld mobile phone behind the wheel. Officers were also looking for other forms of distraction that could affect road safety.
The figure suggests that mobile phone use while driving remains a significant issue on Hungarian roads. A year earlier, during the 2024 campaign, police reported catching more than 2,000 drivers using mobile phones while driving.
In Pest County alone, officers checked 4,745 motorists during the 2024 ROADPOL operation and found 134 drivers holding a phone while driving. Police also reported other distracting behaviour, including eating behind the wheel.
Police increasingly use technology to catch distracted drivers
Hungarian police have increasingly turned to technical tools to identify traffic offences that may be difficult to spot during conventional roadside checks. In recent operations, officers have used drones and other surveillance methods to detect drivers using handheld mobile phones behind the wheel, as well as other traffic violations.
This means motorists may not necessarily be stopped immediately after an offence is observed, as violations can also be documented from a distance and followed up by police afterwards.
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