Phone ban no deterrent

The cellphone ban on drivers has had little impact on the number of people ringing a police line to report bad driving.

Figures released to the Herald on Sunday under the Official Information Act show the number of calls to *555 has remained stable since the ban came into effect last November 1.

Drivers calling *555 are exempt from the $80 fine for driving while using a cellphone.

However, road policing communications manager Lesley Wallis said: "The legislation makes provision for emergency calls, but police would prefer drivers pull over to the side of the road before using their phones for their own safety and the safety of other drivers."