Helmet-mounted cameras allow police officers to record truck drivers using handheld phones while travelling on major freight corridors
Checks Were Conducted on the D2 Motorway
Czech police are increasing enforcement against drivers using mobile phones behind the wheel. During a recent operation, a motorcycle patrol monitored traffic on the D2 motorway between Brno and the Slovak border.
According to the South Moravian Regional Police Directorate, a camera mounted on the officer’s helmet recorded both car and truck drivers using their phones. Many of them apparently failed to notice the police motorcycle travelling beside them.
Once an offence was recorded, the driver was instructed to stop. The footage could demonstrate whether the person was holding a phone, viewing its content or adjusting navigation while the vehicle was moving.
Elevated Riding Position Provides a View Into Truck Cabs
One advantage of a motorcycle patrol is its ability to see inside truck cabs. The elevated position provided by a heavy touring motorcycle gives an officer a considerably better view than a conventional police car.
The helmet camera moves with the officer’s head and records events from the same perspective. The rider can approach a truck, observe the driver’s actions and capture evidence of the vehicle and the alleged offence.
This approach is particularly useful when inspecting long-haul tractors with high-mounted cabs, where a phone in the driver’s hands may be difficult to see from a standard patrol vehicle.
Motorcycles can also move more easily through dense traffic. During the D2 operation, the officer helped manage a queue of trucks, asking drivers to move forward steadily without leaving unnecessarily large gaps that could extend the congestion.
Phone Use Carries Four Penalty Points
According to the Czech road safety authority’s official BESIP guidance, holding a phone or another recording device while driving carries an on-the-spot fine of CZK 2,500 to CZK 3,500.
The offence also carries four penalty points. If the case proceeds to an administrative hearing, the financial penalty can rise to between CZK 4,000 and CZK 10,000.
In one episode shown in the police footage, an officer imposed the maximum roadside fine because the driver had reportedly committed the same offence several months earlier.
Checking directions on a handheld phone does not remove liability. Navigation should be configured before the journey or after stopping in a safe location.
“A phone does not belong in a driver’s hand while the vehicle is moving,” Czech police warned.
A Few Seconds Can Mean More Than 100 Metres Unwatched
Police are particularly concerned about distraction near queues, roadworks and lane restrictions, where traffic speeds can change within seconds.
At 80 km/h, a truck travels approximately 22 metres every second. Looking at a screen for five seconds therefore means covering more than 110 metres without fully monitoring the road ahead.
The risk is greater for heavy vehicles because of their mass, longer stopping distances and reduced ability to make sudden manoeuvres. A short delay in reaction can result in a truck colliding with vehicles stopped at the end of a motorway queue.
Unmarked Iveco Vans Provide Additional Surveillance
The motorcycle patrols complement other surveillance equipment already operated by Czech police. Two unmarked Iveco Daily vans, designed to resemble ordinary service vehicles, are also being used for traffic enforcement.
Four controllable cameras mounted on the roof provide a 360-degree view. An operator seated in the rear workspace can record phone use, missing seat belts, prohibited overtaking and lane violations.
The height of the vans gives the cameras an almost unrestricted view into truck and bus cabs. Recorded evidence can be transferred to another patrol, which then stops the vehicle and processes the offence.
Helmet cameras make the system more mobile. Motorcycles can operate in congested traffic and approach vehicles in locations where a larger monitoring van may have difficulty maintaining the required position.
What International Carriers Should Expect
The D2 is an important international freight corridor connecting Czechia and Slovakia, with onward routes towards Hungary, the Balkans and Central Europe. Checks may therefore affect both domestic and foreign truck drivers.
Drivers should place phones in suitable holders and configure navigation before setting off. Reading messages, searching for an address or changing route settings should be postponed until the vehicle has stopped safely.
The operation demonstrates that the absence of a conventional police car does not mean that a driver is not being monitored. An offence may be recorded by a motorcycle officer or an unmarked surveillance van before a separate patrol stops the truck.
Read also: Czechia Steps Up Summer Truck and Bus Checks
