Source: New Zealand Police
Over the space of one day earlier this week, a small team of New Plymouth Police caught and fined around 70 people who were either using a cell phone while driving or had failed to wear a seatbelt.
The targeted operation was in aid of helping make Taranaki’s roads safer.
Senior Sergeant Matt Prendergast says cell-phone use while driving is a serious safety risk.
“Drivers using cell phones aren’t fully concentrating on driving and when something unexpected occurs, their reaction time is impaired. The chances of causing a crash are significantly higher.
“Essentially, people looking at cell phones while driving are gambling with other people’s lives and wellbeing.
“People know that booze, drugs and speeding are common causes of many car crashes and fatalities, and it’s important they realise distractions such as cell-phone use are also a danger.
“As Police, we see the carnage at crashes and can tell you it’s simply not worth the risk.”
Using a cell phone not only includes using it for calls, but also for texting, using maps, playing music and other applications.
If people want to use a cell phone while driving, Senior Sergeant Prendergast encourages them to use hands-free mode for phone calls or pulling over and stopping to text or use other applications. Hands free means the driver doesn’t have the phone in their hands, he says.
In the recent targeted operation, 49 New Plymouth drivers using their cell phones incurred $150 fines and 20 demerit points. A further 23 drivers and passengers were fined $150 for not wearing a seatbelt.
“This also includes not wearing it correctly such as having the seat belt under the arm rather than over the shoulder,” he says.
“Also of concern to Police is when adults in vehicles haven’t checked whether young children are correctly wearing seatbelts.
“Not wearing a seatbelt could be a fatal mistake and can also exasperate injuries in a crash even when airbags are deployed.”
Prendergast says people can expect similar Police operations throughout Taranaki.
ENDS
Issued by Police Media Centre
Original source: https://nz.mil-osi.com/2026/10/16/phones-not-just-an-issue-for-school-kids-dozens-of-drivers-fined-in-taranaki/