Hand-held cellphones to be banned while driving

[Dave Lobster]

Erhm, I mean - this legislation is useless unless they include stuff like drinking coffee, reading newspapers, changing clothes, putting on make-up, smoking, talking, day dreaming,... ,etc.

Precisely. There's so many distractions, why pick on just the one?

Isn't it already illegal to drive in a dangerous manner? And.. if a policeman sees someone doing it, he'll nick them for it. If not, why would he be more likely to nick someone talking on the phone?

Most of the dorks that try to kill me when I'm on the bike aren't on the phone. They're just inattentive idiots. And seeing as that is already legislated against, with no effect, what's the point of making cell phone usage illegal?
People will still do it. Revenue generation..

[duckonin]

And lets not forget the all important GPS and it's pretty little roads and all, ...Is that the right road (BANG)

[Dave Lobster]

Yup. There's no end of cars now with their little TV on, stuck to the windscreen. Obviously that doesn't distract them, at all..

Yeah. Like fuck.

[Hitcher]

This is completely pointless legislation created by politicians who don't want to be accused of doing nothing. It's unenforceable and a total waste of time, not to mention discriminatory in terms of singling out one form of driver distraction.

No doubt dreamed up by the same people who believe that a dog with a microchip inserted behind its ear won't attack people.

Did I hear somebody say "election year"?

[Bren]

I agree too but somehow I doubt it will be an easy law to enforce, I can still see people doing it all the time whether there is a law against it or not...

...just like running reds and tailgating....cops just wont do anything about it...

[1 Free Man]

Would it not be fair to say that any legislation that helps to prevent people doing dumb arse things, while driving motor vehicles, which could lead to the loss of life is good legislation. Sure they are picking on cell phone but why not. It is about time NZ got in behind the rest of the world on this one. Hopefully they will target the coffee drinkers and the hair doers and the crazy bitch putting on her makeup at 100 kph the paper readers and all of the other silly fucks that forget they are in charge of 1 tonne of killing machine and they should have their mind on the job at hand.
I take heart in the hope that this piece of legislation may be the legislation that stops some stupid prick from rear ending me when I'm on my bike because he/she was on their cell phone.
next up the coffee drinker. The ones that feel they need their cafeine buzz that bad that they have to do it while driving their killing machine instead of taking two minutes out of their life to have their drink while stationary at the side of the road.
Lastly I would say when the over paid fuckwitts in parliament do some thing usefully don't knock it. Election year or not let them get on with it and get something right for all the money they cost us all.

[Hitcher]

Would it not be fair to say that any legislation that helps to prevent people doing dumb arse things, while driving motor vehicles, which could lead to the loss of life is good legislation.

You are confusing legislation with compliance and enforcement. They are completely different things.

[Usarka]

Did I hear somebody say "election year"?

Bang on. This wouldn't have been done any other year, like ummm the last 8.....

Research shows hands free is not much safer.

And if it is so dangerous will all commercial and emergency handheld radios be equally banned? Or are some more equal than others.......

[Dave Lobster]

I take heart in the hope that this piece of legislation may be the legislation that stops some stupid prick from rear ending me when I'm on my bike because he/she was on their cell phone.

What about the one that rear ends you because her baby is crying, and she's not paying attention?

Pity there's no law against that.

[Steam]

It's unenforceable and a total waste of time...

I don't think so. Seatbelt laws are the same, but people get pulled over for that sometimes if the cop has nothing better to do.

A lot of talkers and texters will be made more nervous, looking around for a cop car, so maybe they'll just wait.
Besides all that it is a matter of social change, social-engineering. The government is sending the message that it's not okay, and the majority of Kiwis agree.

Besides, mobile phones were implicated in 27* traffic deaths last year. Any attempt to fix the problem is good.

If a driver doesn't like it, just spend $50 more and buy a hands free kit. Problem solved.



* I remember hearing somewhere.

[Hitcher]

Only 27? That's less than a tenth of those who died from food-borne illnesses.

I know, let's ban food!

[P38]

This will be about as productive as a Wet Fart in a Wind Farm with the exception of generating impressive revenue streams for the Govt coffers.

This part of the exercise will be exceptional no doubt.

It's all part of the circle of life.

Govt gives it with one hand (Tax Relief), applies a multiplier, and takes it back with the other (Traffic Fines for Yapping on ya phone).

All in the interest of helping families and improving public safety in an election year.

Can't ya just feel the Love people.

[Steam]

Only 27? That's less than a tenth of those who died from food-borne illnesses.

I know, let's ban food!

What a silly comparison. You know better than that Hitcher.

Banning food will kill everyone.
Banning handheld cellphones while driving may just save a few lives.

[Dave Lobster]

Banning handheld cellphones while driving may just save a few lives.

The government isn't in the slightest bit interested in saving lives. If it was, it would increase the standard of driving in this country.
What it IS interested in is populist knee jerk reaction law changes to appeal to a population that isn't looking like it'll vote them back in to power.

[avgas]

Seatbelt laws are the same, but people get pulled over for that sometimes if the cop has nothing better to do.

Bwahahahaha i can't believe you said that - hasn't Ronald told you anything.
The cellphone thing MAY save a life if penalised, the seatbelt thing WILL save a life if resolved.
Kinda like putting knives in a draw - so that no one bleeds to death, rather than enforcing that the knives are to clean so that they don't cause infection.
While i believe enforcing cellphones out of cars, is a good idea - i do feel that it is overrated and would rather have my cops making sure the local 4-square owner is not dead on a floor.