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Blitz gives chatty drivers motivation to quit

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Blitz catches chatty drivers

3News NZ

Police say they will be continuing to keep an eye out for risky behaviour

Police say they will be continuing to keep an eye out for risky behaviour

By 3 News online staff

Police say the public welcomed their week-long crackdown on drivers using cellphones – including some of those caught in the act.

Last week marked the third anniversary of the ban.

"What is really pleasing is that anecdotal feedback from police staff across the country suggests most people have responded positively to the campaign," says national manager road policing Supt Carey Griffiths, "with feedback from many motorists saying that they are unimpressed when they see someone using their cellphone at the wheel, and that they are pleased that police are enforcing the rule.

"Equally, many of those who have been caught have been contrite about being ticketed and have said it was about time they were caught to stop them doing it again."

Despite the week-long campaign coming to an end last night, police say they will be continuing to keep an eye out for risky behaviour.

"People seem to be taking on board the message that it’s not okay to be on the open road at 100km/h and not be giving your full attention to driving because you're using your phone or handheld device to send a text or check an email, as nothing is that important."

Other safety measures police are watching out for are failing to wear seatbelts and or not restraining children appropriately.

"We know that just as putting away cellphones and other distractions can make a difference, wearing seat belts also continues to save lives, even though there are still some drivers and their passengers who just don't get it," says Mr Griffiths.

"These are two very simple things that we can all do that can make a difference. It is not hard or time consuming, but can be the difference between life and death if something goes wrong."

The total number fined during the blitz won't be known for a few weeks.

3 News

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Comments

4/12/2012 9:31:59 p.m.

Blackbird Beep wrote:

These texting drivers probably cant remember how many motorcyclists they ran over or cut off, but hey that was probably the motorcyclists fault, if government stats are anything to go by.

4/12/2012 4:13:32 p.m.

Rachel wrote:

You know, its funny, the police are being all high and mighty about crack downs on cell phones while driving, yet I've spotted cops sitting on their smart phones at the traffic lights etc. Why don't these laws apply to them as well?

4/12/2012 9:39:57 a.m.

Uffer wrote:

A message to drivers who text while driving. My wife was killed on her birthday 2 years ago by a 19 year old girl who was witnessed to be texting while she ran a red light at a busy intersection. As the result, my wife was broadsided and killed instantly. The cell phone record revealed that the 19 year old was texting a joke to her friend at the moment she ran the red light. She got 6 months home detention. She is now 21 but my wife is still dead. Fines are NOT to generate revenue for the police. They are to punish the people who endanger the general public on our roads by driving while distracted (DWD). The first offense for driving while texting should carry a mandatory 2,000$ fine. It’s simple. If you don’t text, then you’ll never have to pay the penalty. Maybe then people would think twice about staring at a cell phone while driving a car. Maybe my wife would still be alive.

4/12/2012 9:09:40 a.m.

Uffer wrote:

The attitude that “Moose” has (read his comments below) is a perfect example of the dangerous attitude that people have that text while driving. Ask any one of these people and they all say the same thing. They think that they have superior abilities to drive a car while looking straight down at a cell phone for 10 sometimes 25 seconds. They also get insulted by others who accuse them of a lack of co-ordination while driving while texting. The truth is that it’s a matter of physics and math in motion. Traveling at 100kph you travel 28 meters each second. So if you look straight down to text for, let’s say, a typical 4 seconds, while driving at 100kph, you’ve propelled a typical 900 kg car 112 meters. That’s like driving almost the length of a rugby field (144 meters) with your eyes closed! As a passenger, I’ve observed at least 100 hundred people driving at 100kph on the motorway and timed them looking down while texting for up to TEN seconds! That’s a distance of 280 meters (TWO rugby fields) down the motorway driving blindfolded! Open your eyes people!

3/12/2012 4:52:19 p.m.

grant wrote:

Think of it this way Moose, if they dont get enough money to pay the police retirement fund this way they will only dream up something else.You will be fined for drinking a coffee, talking to a passenger or smoking ect.All this nanny state and fines mentality is designed so police can avoid the real issues in the community and still feel good about themselves.And fund there very early retirement fund that no other working person can get!!

3/12/2012 12:20:12 p.m.

The Moose wrote:

I get it - If you are un-coordinated then you shouldn't be using a phone while driving - but I have been texting and driving for years and never come close to crashing. This 1 rule for all bullsh*t has to stop! I could text while tying my shoe with 1 eye open and still not crash - some idiots crash while not doing anything. This is just an excuse for cops to pull in more revenue!