The fine for using a phone while driving increased from $80 to $150 from April 30. The fine for not wearing a seat belt is also $150.
Between 2015 and 2019, there were 22 road deaths and 73 serious injuries as a result of incidents involving motorists distracted by mobile phones.
The Star spoke to acting Sergeant James McClurg after he and other officers stopped 14 motorists on cellphones and seven not wearing seat belts between about 8am and 9am on Lincoln Rd.
Said McClurg: “It [the increased cellphone fine] doesn’t really seem to be making a difference.
“We need to make sure drivers are paying attention to what’s ahead of them.
“Seven people not wearing seat belts down here in an hour is atrocious.”
McClurg said the number of people police stopped on Lincoln Rd on Friday was “disappointingly stock standard.”
The Star returned to Lincoln Rd on Monday morning and witnessed two drivers talking on their cellphones in the space of 20 minutes.
He said police are setting up “one or two” traffic stops a day across Christchurch to catch out motorists breaking these and other road rules.
McClurg said not paying attention to the road can lead to serious consequences, injuries or death.
