The need to stay in touch

[MotherBear]

No ban on cellphones in cars, for now
Monday, 18 December 2006

Prime Minister Helen Clark has left the door open for a ban on drivers' use of hand-held cellphones in future. Miss Clark said today Cabinet decided a while ago against the ban on using cellphones while driving because research showed it would make little or no difference to the road toll

"The reason a ban wasn't agreed to at that time was that information we had was it might – underlining might – save one life a year." she said on TV's Breakfast programme. "Now that has to be put against the inconvenience of the travelling public." She said the matter could be revisited if evidence showed a ban would make a significant difference. "I'm happy to have the matter looked at again. . .but there's got to be good evidence."

Transport Safety Minister Harry Duynhoven is in favour of a ban. He raised the issue with Cabinet again after the death of 16-year-old Sharleen Lloyd, who police suspected was texting when the car she was driving crashed killing her near Whakatane this month.

United Future, also supports a ban, and MP Gordon Copeland said that last year 79 crashes – seven of them fatal – were caused by cellphone distractions.

Miss Clark said the advent of texting and its increased popularity had added a twist to the issue. She said it was "absolutely ridiculous" for people to try texting while driving.

Vodafone and Telecom have said they would not oppose a ban on the use of hand-held phones while driving but have not established a position on the use of hands-free devices.

- Stuff.co.nz

[MotherBear]

An innovative Land Transport New Zealand ad campaign has seen thousands of young drinkers send sober driving messages to their mates where they need them most – in the pub.

The message doesn't seem to have reached Christchurch yet. And it's not even Christmas!

Christchurch blitz catches 140 drink drivers
By WARREN GAMBLE | Monday, 18 December 2006

Christchurch's biggest drink-drive blitz caught 140 drivers over the limit, boy racers travelling at more than 120kmh, a burglar with stolen property and a mobile drugs laboratory.

Police say they are disappointed at the high number of failed breath tests – many apparently fuelled by Christmas drinks – in the three-day operation which stopped 25,000 motorists.

"People are socialising more, people have not planned ahead, got caught up in festivities and forgotten the message," said Canterbury road policing manager Inspector Derek Erasmus yesterday. "They will be reminded when they appear in court."

Up to 80 police from Christchurch, Nelson and Dunedin manned checkpoints around the central city on Thursday, Friday and Saturday nights, using four booze buses. Of the 25,000 drivers stopped in Operation Unison, initial sniffer tests detected 1500 had been drinking.

Erasmus said the 140 motorists who failed evidential breath tests was the highest number ever caught and represented a much higher catch rate than usual – one in 179 compared to one in 500 or 600 normally. Of those over the limit, 21 had their licences suspended immediately because their breath alcohol level was over 650 micrograms per litre of breath. The legal limit is 400mcg.

Nine had their cars confiscated because of previous drink-driving offences. One of those stopped was found to be in a stolen car, with stolen goods from a burglary, and was two and half times over the legal limit.

Erasmus said some of the out-of-town police staff recognised two gang members in a car which contained a mobile methamphetamine laboratory. The men would face charges.

Erasmus was appalled by the street racing on the dual lanes of Harper Avenue. One race was clocked by police at the Harper Avenue checkpoint at 123kmh in the 50kmh zone. "It's a shocker that's all I can say, it's incredibly dangerous." In all seven people were charged with illegal street racing.

Erasmus said the bright spot from the weekend was the large number of people walking past checkpoints in the central city after drinking. But he said there were still far too many who did not think ahead. "Everyone knows the law ... it's just really disappointing to see this many people willing to take a chance with their life and others lives."

Most were caught after midnight, reflecting changing drinking patterns from later liquor licensing hours.

First offenders face a maximum six months disqualification and a $4500 fine. Erasmus said the blitz would continue over the next few weeks.