More than 30 Tauranga drivers have been caught by police using a cellphone while driving or not wearing seat belt in the first four days of a national campaign for safer roads.
Western Bay of Plenty road policing Sergeant Wayne Hunter said at least 23 people were fined for not wearing a seat belt and 9 people were caught using a phone while driving by the end of Thursday night.
New Zealand Police began a nation-wide crackdown on distracted drivers this week. The campaign will continue until August 7.
Mr Hunter said the amount of tickets issued over the four days was fairly standard.
''Use of cell phones is a major distraction and on many occasions I have
personally seen drivers texting and almost colliding with a car stationary at lights.''