The government’s slight increase in fines for drivers illegally using cellphones is ‘pathetic’, says the car review website dogandlemon.com.
Editor Clive Matthew-Wilson, who is an outspoken road safety campaigner, says many drivers will simply continue to use cellphones and accept the risk of a higher penalty.
“There are still hundreds of thousands of drivers using cellphones while driving. They accept the risk of a fine in the same way they accept the risk of a parking ticket. These penalties do little to change behaviour.”
“A driver who’s prepared to risk an $80 fine and 20 demerit points is also very likely to accept the risk of a $150 fine and 20 demerit points.”
“The government’s announcement is clearly designed to please everyone, but will ultimately please no one. If the government is serious about protecting innocent people on our roads, then the penalties for cellphone use while driving need to be far more unpleasant.”
Matthew-Wilson wants the police to permanently seize cellphones used by the drivers of moving vehicles.
“First offence you lose your cellphone. Second offence you lose your cellphone and your number. Third offence you lose your cellphone and your number, plus your car is impounded for seven days.”
Matthew-Wilson believes the New Zealand government has consistently underestimated how much cellphone use contributes to the road toll.
The American National Safety Council estimates 26% of all traffic crashes involve drivers using cellphones. Young drivers are now regularly using social media while driving. It’s also common for drivers to use software such as Facetime to video themselves while they are driving, with predictable results.”
“The New Zealand government needs to stop pussyfooting around on this issue and take firm action to save lives.”
‘pussyfooting around’ is the only strategy the Adern government knows.
Don’t hold your breath for decisive action on ANYTHING.
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I also agree
There are things you can blame Arderns government on but this ain’t one of them. Yes, someone with expertise and left field thinking could see this is a waste of time but nearly if not all MP’s wouldn’t have a clue. This fine increase was written by the bureaucracy, text book actually.
National passed similar pointless law changes, it’s the way middle class law abiding law writing people think but who give analysis of crashes not a second thought. So that it’s happened under Labour makes no difference.
Distraction is the biggest inducer of risk by far. Cars are full of it, 5, 7, 9 inch touch screens full of information and fine detail, 20 plus steering wheel buttons, cell phones are but another layer. You can legitimately have one stuck to your windscreen just to add to the confusion and distractions. And for the law to be enforced, police have to literally see you using one. Otherwise reasonable doubt wins the day.
Clive Matthew Wilson’s idea is good but the same problem remains, the chances of getting caught remain so slight, the risk is worth it.
If you can’t drive well while talking on your cell phone while steering with your knee while you adjust the heater controls you shouldn’t be driving at all. Similarly, if you can’t roll a cigarette or a joint while steering with your knee while you steal a kiss then stick to tricycles. The ones with the wee ribbons on the handle bars. If you can’t manage those simple things while driving then you’re going to be a fatal danger to yourself and to others.
Clive needs to back down and fuck off because Clive is perpetuating the logical fallacy that adding sterner rules and regulations to driving makes people better drivers. They don’t Clive. You should stick to knowing the difference between a Skoda and a Volvo. Namely that they’re both shit cars BTW.
After many years of driving as a remote, high country driver, as a heavy transport driver, as a precision driver for fancy people, as a locations scout and manager driving in every road condition imaginable, as a drunk driver, a high driver, as a high speed driver, as a tripping driver that once I think I can safely say that the most dangerous driver of all is the switched off driver adhering to our dumb fucking road laws which deliberately and actively encourage us to switch off while obeying Postman Pat’s rules which is great news for coffin makers.
You can spot a good driver a mile away. They keep well back then when they see an opportunity to over take they floor it. They always have a line plotted through corners ( Including an escape clause in case one’s met with a tourist family thinking they’re still driving back home thus on the wrong side here.) and are thinking a couple of power pole spaces ahead. Where required, they’ll get eye contact when driving in the cities and don’t do anything unless they other driver’s returned eye contact. They understand that a short wheel based car will corner differently to a long wheel base car and front wheel drive cars handle differently to rear wheel drive which handle differently to 4×4 and that all changes when the vehicle’s loaded up with cargo and people.
The last thing we need is more cops flat-footing it about with a fucking ticket book. Being well trained and understanding the psychology of driving is the answer I reckon.
Can I just write a little something about tail gaters? Nothing really.
You’re the ones who follow too close to the vehicle in front who has that person in it who would love to figure out how to get away with bashing your skull in with the jack handle. When you follow too close you increase the overtaking distance for anyone behind that doesn’t have a chromosome missing and has learned to tie their shoelaces effectively.
When you’re up the arse of the car in front your view forward will be greatly compromised for when you might be able to overtake, dipshit. Of course Clive will know that it’s best to rigidly stick to the speed limit when over taking from a forward vision compromised position because you’ll be overtaking very slowly into any on-coming traffic.
And while you’re up the arse of the car in front you’ll be traveling at the same speed as them so when you finally stop dreaming about your mother in her swim suite and decide to head out to overtake very, very slowly and very , very unsafely you’ll very safely and very slowly imbed your self into the radiators of oncoming traffic. Whereas if you were at the legally required one car space back per 10 kph which on the open road @ 100 kph =’s roughly the gap between power poles which is about 100 M you can build up a decent speed to zip past thus spending less time ON THE WRONG SIDE OF THE FUCKING ROAD!
Passing lanes? Aren’t they great? But why do I often see cops parked up at the ends of them waiting for the speeders? FUCK OFF COPS! Not helping.
Two final things. Keep well back then when it’s all clear, go like fuck! And there’s no shame in pulling over to let the cars following pass you by. Just pull over then take a left to go down by that wee creek, let the dog out for a pee and brew a cup of coffee. Maybe if it’s a hot day then off with your shoes and socks and soak your feet. Pop on some jazz. A little Miles Davis on a sunny Autumn afternoon? Or you can slug it out with fuck wits and get there 15 minutes earlier.
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