Surviving the ban on phoning and driving

BY GERARD CAMPBELL AND WILL HARVIE

You've probably seen it dozens of times. Stopped at a roundabout you see a four-wheel-drive travel through, a mobile phone stuck to the ear of the driver.

Like it or not, come Sunday using a handheld mobile phone while driving will be an offence.

That means you can be pulled over by police if you're seen texting or using a phone while driving and you'll face an $80 fine and 20 demerit points on your driver's licence.

According to New Zealand Transportation Agency, between 2003 and 2008 there were 436 injury crashes and 21 fatal crashes in New Zealand where the use of a mobile phone or other telecommunications device was identified as a contributing factor.

A survey in 2004 showed that 65 per cent of New Zealanders owned a mobile phone and that 57 per cent of those surveyed used a mobile phone occasionally while driving.

Research indicates that using a mobile phone while driving can be just as dangerous as drink driving. So we'll all have to adapt.

What's allowed

* Using a phone if "stuck in traffic due to the road ahead being blocked, for example, because of an accident". This does not apply when drivers are "stationary in the normal flow of traffic, such as approaching intersections, traffic lights or roadworks".

* Making or receiving calls if the driver does not have to "hold or manipulate the phone" (that is, the phone is fully voice-activated).

* Making or receiving calls if the phone is "secured in a mounting fixed to the vehicle". This typically means a cradle, or fully integrated systems. But the driver can only manipulate a securely mounted phone "infrequently and briefly".

* If the phone is securely mounted, drivers may use speed dial. They may also enter a full phone number if the manipulation is infrequent and brief.

* Using earphones, headsets and mouthpieces attached to phones, provided the driver does not hold or manipulate the phone.

* Using music functions of phones, provided the device is mounted.

* Using satellite navigation functions of phones, provided the device is securely mounted.

* Making genuine emergency 111 calls. This includes genuine *555 calls, which are used to report dangerous driving.

* Using CB radio and two-way radios.

What's not allowed

* Answering or making phone calls with a handheld phone while driving.

* Creating, sending or reading texts, email messages or video messages while driving.

* Making or receiving calls using a phone loud speaker unless the phone is securely mounted. "You cannot hold or manipulate a phone to answer or make a call, even if you use it on loud speaker when talking", under new rules.

* Playing computer games.

* Disabling the phone (for example, using flight mode) and using other phone functions while driving.

* Using a phone while on a bike or motorbike.

Your options

If you absolutely must use your mobile in the car, what tech options do you have?

A good starting point is a hands-free Bluetooth headset or speakerphone set-up that connects wirelessly with a compatible mobile phone.

Headsets are generally a microphone that clips behind one ear, while speakerphones tend to clip to a sunvisor, a windscreen or onto a car dashboard. Prices for Bluetooth headsets can range from $25 right up to $200, while prices for speakerphones can range from $100 to $500.

When it is switched on the Bluetooth device searches for any compatible devices nearby, in this case your mobile phone, then "pairs" or connects with the device. Every time you switch on the Bluetooth device it will automatically link up with your mobile.

But what Bluetooth headset or speakerphone set-up you buy depends on several factors: the amount of use it will get, the features it has, ease of set-up and comfort (in relation to headsets), and crucially, cost.

Some speakerphones have all the bells and whistles such as being able to stream music from your phone. But think hard whether you really need that stuff. Shop around and investigate which type suits you and your needs best.

Options that PC World magazine suggest that are worth a look at are the BlueAnt V1 (NZ$145, available online), the Plantronics Discovery 925 ($318), the LG HFB-500 solar car kit ($244) and the Jabra SP700 Bluetooth speakerphone ($182).

Dave Moore, The Press' motoring editor, suggests that if you're in the market for a new car, buy one that is fully compatible with most phones.

"It doesn't need to be expensive. Ford's new Fiesta has full voice- activated connectivity as standard, and is a cinch to set up, while even Toyota's Hilux ute can have you hands-free in a few seconds. Check with the dealer for brand you're currently driving."

Moore says that if you have a company car, the chances are the distributors will have a hands-free or connectivity solution to suit. And remind them - this goes for private owners too - good service on this issue could mean the difference between retaining or losing customers for the future.

However, Moore says the cheapest, albeit temporary, way of making sure people can reach you while you're driving is to have a message set up on your mobile that says: "I'm sorry, I'm driving at the moment. Give me a chance to pull over and call me again in two minutes."

"People will respect that," he says.

- © Fairfax NZ News