Bay drivers still texting and driving

Sergeant Ray Kirkby, Regional council transport co-ordinator Megan Welsby, Text Off campaigner Helen Small, and Roadsafe Hawke's Bay regional manager Linda Anderson with new TEXT OFF signage on a bus in Napier. Photo / Paul Taylor.

Police and Roadsafe Hawke's Bay say this month's "Text Off" campaign is proving a success, despite a "disappointing" denial from motorists to comply with legislation.

This month marks the four-year anniversary of legislation banning the use of mobile phones while driving, and a Roadsafe Hawke's Bay and police campaign is under way to catch drivers and raise awareness of the law.

Sergeant Ray Kirkby said he was still "disappointed" to see people using their phones while driving.

"You would think we would see more compliance with the legislation now in place," Mr Kirkby said.

"The thing that our spotters are noticing is people trying to hide the fact that they are using their phone while driving. They recognise they are doing something wrong but continue to do it anyway."

He said police operations would continue until the end of the month in an effort to "educate" and force "compliance" with the legislation.

"They are certainly a distraction for the driver, if we can eliminate that distraction then the road is a safer place not only for the driver, but the driver coming the other way and the kids playing on the side of the road."

Senior Sergeant Greg Brown said provisional figures from the past 10 days were 30 infringements for cellphones, and 65 for seatbelts.

"On a positive note, there have been 14 drivers spotted doing the right thing, and they will receive a pack in the post from Roadsafe Hawke's Bay for making the right choice," he said.

Roadsafe Hawke's Bay regional manager Linda Anderson said the campaign had been a success, despite continued infringements from drivers.

"We have had amazing feedback. There is even a letter from an emergency department nurse commending our efforts.

"We have had a number of drivers receiving infringement notices for cell-phone use, but also 14 drivers will be receiving 'caught being safe' gifts."

She said six vehicles pulled over between Wairoa and Napier on Monday were employing the safe "Text Off" tactics.

"As this is a regional project we are working our way across the region, we went to Wairoa on Monday. We are back in Hastings tomorrow, CHB next week, then checkpoints in Napier the last week of the month."

Later this month, a RoadSafe Hawke's Bay on-line survey will ask motorists to respond to questions such as, "Do you feel safe on Hawke's Bay roads?"

She said future plans were for a monthly week-long Roadsafe campaign supported by police addressing cell-phone use and child and adult restraints in vehicles.

Fifty Pan Pac logging trucks have also been fitted with the "text off" message, as have two Hawke's Bay Regional Council public buses.

Police statistics show more than 220 Bay motorists were handed infringement notices in the past year.