By Jeff Hampton
Signs are growing motorists are starting to ignore the ban on using hand-held cell phones while driving.
Christchurch police are warning motorists to take the ban seriously and are especially worried about those who take their eyes off the road to text.
Most motorists went along with the cell phone ban when it started in November – and authorities were delighted.
But now it seems behaviour is taking a turn for the worse; Christchurch police are noticing a rise in the number of people illegally using hand-held phones while driving.
Sergeant Scott Richardson says “considering the triviality of most text messages, you have to wonder whether it is worth risking a fine and your driving licence, or being involved in a serious crash.”
Those who earn their living on the road have noticed the same thing.
“You can always tell,” says taxi driver Bob Meadowcroft,
“You drive behind a car and you can see that their heads go down and you know what they're doing. It is more noticeable.”
Bill McIntyre, another taxi driver, says he sees a lot of people using Bluetooth.
“I think most people seem to have the message. There's always going to be some who go the other way just for the hell of it.”
Some try to sneak a quick text at the lights.
“Yeah, that's when I've seen them, just around town,” says courier driver John Brennan. “You maybe catch the odd one driving along a bit erratically.”
Getting caught will cost you an $80 fine and 20 demerit points.
The ban had an immediate impact; Bluetooth installations rocketed, and both major phone companies – Telecom and Vodafone – say cell phone use has dropped in peak-hour traffic.
275 tickets were issued for cellphone offences in the first month of the ban – most of them in Auckland.
Police believe offending is increasing and next week they will know for sure when they release the latest cell phone offence figures.
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