Personally I think if you really wanted to reduce traffic accidents you would raise the speed limit.I find trying to mantain intrest at 50km an hour impossible and nod off…..the higher the speed the higher the focus on the road.

And our pathetic road signage must kill a fair few a year as well as drivers try and squint in vain to see what streets what…

“Texting while driving is common-especially among younger drivers-and definitely should be banned.I cannot think of a more dangerous but more widespread practice.”

Reading maps and newspapers, getting a blow job, eating and having an uncontrollable sneezing fit.

Can’t see why this isn’t careless driving or some such (apart from the last example) and why they actually need a new law. The really silly thing is that just hanging onto a cell phone is no different to talking to a passenger with one arm off the wheel. Juggling a cup of coffee and a meal is probably a hell of a lot more dodgy. The dangerous bit is dialing the number (like texting).

Maybe they figure that a blanket ban gets rid of the bit that’s actually dangerous, and the rest is just an acceptable inconvenience to stop the keypad punching. Or mabe that pointless Captain Pugwash lookalike figures he can get his crime-busting stats up.

It will be interesting to see if a ban on fine dining and monitoring current affairs behind the wheel follows. But I doubt there would be much support from Liabore to ban blowjobs on the move.

Glutaemus Maximus said:

“As much as I detest Governmental Interference, this makes perfect sense.”

And thus the same people who denounced (at the top of their lungs) similar proposals by the Labour government, excuse anything the National government does.

Hil-fucken-arious!

Oh go on then, come and regulate my shower pressure! I know you want to.

Still you can take comfortin your Leaders success, and the Parties standing. Saving up for the next election?

Without Owen, that is going to prove very costly. Especially when you actually know yo will get decimated.

The reason for the law change is very simple. Under current legislation the cops are not able to prosecute the idiots who insist on texting while driving. Now they will be able to.

Adolf, the “prosecution” is a $80 fine. Man, that’s some prosecution!!!!

Cellphones

It is recommended that you don’t make or receive phone calls or text messages while you’re driving. Instead, pull over and stop in a safe place at the side of the road before using a cellphone.

http://www.ltsa.govt.nz/roadcode/about-driver-responsibility/responsible-driving.html

The recommendation does not work, how many actually do it, very, very few. Labour had the opportunity but lacked the guts to do the obvious.

could someone please explain to me how a cop is supposed to tell at a distance whether I am changing the song on my ipod or texting?

I’d like to know that too.

What we’re really talking about is judgement impairment while driving. Drinking impairs you so we legally restrict the amount allowed to be consumed. Drugs similarly impair you but testing is a lot harder. All sorts of other things impair people to whilst driving. Including: visibility, sudden or sustained noises, conversations, kids, pets, dirty windshields etc etc. What needs to be decided is what level of impairment is acceptable.

The banning of cellphones while driving sends out a mixed signal as to what impairments are acceptable. Women putting on makeup in the car while on the motorway is not explicitly illegal, so is that okay? If we’re going to “send a strong signal” then the signal should be clear. We seem to be using the law to send out a lot of signals lately.

it’s time the cellphone manufacturers and the vehicle producers got together to ensure there is a universal hands-free kit available and, preferably, installed in all new cars. That way, people can take their cellphone from car to car and use it appropriately.

They do exist – most new cars (ie less than 3 years old) have a bluetooth handsfree capability in their stereo, and most cellphones have bluetooth now too. Not to worry for those of us who choose to have old cars – we can also buy a new stereo with such a capability, or if you are really geeky I can email you how I made the old tape player in my 1990 Camry compatible with my mobile phone and ipod, eliminating the need to buy a new stereo (only cheaper if you don’t count labour costs though).

There has been a ban on cellphone use in Australia for years (varies from state to state) however I am yet to meet somebody who has got a ticket from using a cellphone, and yes I still see it all the time in traffic on the Gold Coast.

Also could someone please explain to me how a cop is supposed to tell at a distance whether I am changing the song on my ipod or texting? Both are surely equally distracting but in NZ one is legal and one is about to be illegal.

What evidence do you have to show that the “halfwit” would drive differently with a hands free??

How about if they’re not talking on a phone at all? Is it pure speculation that a driver might drive differently with both hands on the wheel?

infused (397) Vote: 0 4 Says:

August 17th, 2009 at 1:32 pm
Rick Rowling:

I’ve drunk driven when younger. I talk on my cell in the car every day, have done for the last 7 years. No crashes. The comparison is stupid.

Stupid is as stupid does, as Ma Gump used to say.

“Follow any halfwit (they’re more often than not middle aged) talking on a ‘phone while driving and watch him (or her) cut corners, fail to signal, vary speed dangerously, go through red/orange lights, fail to keep left – all of which occur regularly while these dick-heads yak – and you’ll understand that point.”

Will I?

The point is sensible & obvious, so no, of course you won’t.

We were all stupid once

Anyway, those studies are over 10 years old, back when cellphones were bricks.

Will I?

What evidence do you have to show that the “halfwit” would drive differently with a hands free??

And you forgot 89.4 FM

As others have mentioned, it is readily observable that driving standards drop significantly when using a hand-held mobile phone. I would argue that for every fatality there are likely to be numerous ‘near misses’ or non injury crashes. The insurance/police stats where mobile phones [hand-held] resulted in vehicle damage alone would likely be very informative. I am unaware, though, if such figures exist.