Drivers' cellphone habits die hard

MICHELLE COOKE

At least 25 people have been killed as a result of drivers using their cellphones, but thousands are still refusing to change their habits.

More than 13,000 people have been fined for using their cellphones while driving since it became illegal nearly two years ago – and they are only the ones who have been caught.

Among the recorded deaths between 2003 and 2008 were Lucy Simon, 18, and her sister Isabelle, 15. Lucy was answering a text message when she lost control of her car on a narrow bridge south of Levin and crashed into an oncoming truck in 2007.

A coroner later ruled that cellphone distraction was the main cause of the accident.

Their mother, Anne McCabe, said yesterday that she was horrified whenever she saw people texting and driving.

"I saw someone just the other day in an articulated truck with 1000 sheep on the back. He was weaving all over the road."

Although the ban had had an immediate effect, people were falling back into old habits, she said.

She has worked with police on an education campaign in schools, called "A msg in Contxt". It uses a multimedia approach to highlight risk factors and conditions that contribute to road crashes – especially texting.

"I did hear of one young man, his mother was texting while driving, and he grabbed her phone and threw it out the window."

Since the law change, 13,260 infringement tickets have been issued, equating to just over $1 million in fines. More than 4600 of the fines have not been paid and $350,000 is still outstanding.

National road policing manager Paula Rose said drivers were distracted when texting or calling on cellphones. A small mistake could result in a fatal accident.

There had been an improvement since the law change, but police would still be taking a hard line on anyone who ignored the law, she said.

"Prior to the legislation coming in we lost some lives on our roads from cellphone usage, but to the best of my knowledge there's been no loss of life since.

"But we've still had the odd crash where the person has been using their cellphone. The bottom line is it's really, really unsafe."

There were obvious signs when a driver was distracted by their cellphone, she said.

"Like the person in front of you who doesn't accelerate away from the lights or the person who doesn't indicate because they have their hand on their cellphone, or who weaves in the lane.

"They're taking their mind off the driving task and concentrating on the conversation."

Drivers who were caught using cellphones would be given an $80 fine and 20 demerit points.

Collections general manager Bryre Patchell said legal enforcement action included clamping, seizing and selling property, making compulsory deductions from people's income or bank accounts, issuing warrants for arrest and preventing overseas travel.

- © Fairfax NZ News