During March, officers throughout the Otago region will be focused on distracted drivers — particularly those using their phones behind the wheel.
As part of a nationwide effort, checkpoints will run across the city in an attempt to reduce the number of drivers using cellphones, among other distractions.
Sergeant Adrian Cheyne, of Dunedin, said a checkpoint in Castle St on Tuesday ticketed 10 drivers in an hour for cellphone use — the most common distraction.
"It’s everywhere. I’ll see at least 20 people in a day using their phone while driving.
"It’s prolific."
Most crashes were caused by inattention of some sort, he said.
"Distracted drivers are dangerous drivers."
A checkpoint yesterday on Cumberland St involved a spotter informing police further along the road of distracted driving.
Two cars were pulled over in 10 minutes for a driver using a cellphone or a passenger not wearing a seatbelt.
"It’s very obvious — you’re looking up and down and up and down while on your phone.
"If you get caught on a cellphone you can’t use the excuse of not knowing."
Drivers could expect to be ticketed if caught driving distracted, Sgt Cheyne said.
"If you get caught, you can’t say you didn’t know it was wrong, because we’re constantly advertising it."
Checkpoints were beneficial because even if drivers weren’t doing anything wrong, they were checking their seatbelts and distractions, he said.
Ministry of Transport data showed in 2018 there were 1121 crashes in New Zealand as a result of distracted driving, killing 11 and injuring 1411.
Checkpoints across Dunedin would run throughout March as part of the month-long focus on distractions.
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Comments
Excellent, I can't believe how dangerous people can be in their cars. I see dozens everyday negotiate a steep hill with a tight corner, with kids in the car, some at considerable speed, traffic going both ways, parked cars on either side, ......AND THEY'RE TEXTING!
Are your messages really that important? Do you really have such blatant disregard for the safety of your children, pedestrians and other motorists?
Obviously the answer is "yes", your phone is far more important and you don't give a damn about safety. So maybe you shouldn't be driving at all.
I'm amazed it's taken this long to start cracking down on mobile phone use behind the wheel. Cycling in Dunedin was scary enough before the advent of mobile phones, now it's just plain terrifying
I am amazed it has taken so long..its blatant and companies should be told also of offences
You only caught 10 drivers in that hour, because the rest of them likely saw the checkpoint/officers and put their phones down, temporarily.
I'm out driving every day, and it's a massive amount worse than 10 drivers per hour.