Ban hands-free kits too, expert says

The ban on cellphone use while driving starts tomorrow. Photo / Wanganui Chronicle

One in four car crashes is caused by distractions like cellphone use, and hands-free kits could make the situation worse, a Sydney expert says.

A ban on handheld cellphones in the car kicks in tomorrow and has created huge demand for hands-free speaker phones.

A Telecom spokesman said sales of hands-free kits had grown 200 per cent in one year.

However, Mark Stevenson, of the George Institute for International Health and co-author of a study into the risks of talking while driving, said the popularity of hands-free kits could lead to an increase in road accidents.

"If this new technology actually increases mobile phone use in cars, it could contribute to even more crashes."

Professor Stevenson's study, published in the British Medical Journal, showed the risk of having an accident while on a hands-free kit was only 5 per cent less than handheld cellphones.

Total mobile phone use in cars - either handheld or hands-free - was the key, he said.

A ban on handheld cellphone use was justified, but legislation could go further.

"This legislative change is justified. However, as the evidence also highlights hands-free as a significant risk, so too is a total ban on mobile use justified."

Professor Stevenson said other devices, such as entertainment systems, were even more of a distraction than cellphones.

But New Zealand Traffic Institute vice-president John Gottler said the biggest problem in New Zealand was texting - and texting was impossible to do hands-free.

"If you eliminated texting that's going to make a big difference.

"Hands-free is definitely a better step than what we have right now."

He said New Zealand's texting culture was unique and a ban on handheld cellphone use made sense as a first step.

RUNDOWN ON CELLPHONE RULES

Today is the last day NZ drivers can legally talk on a handheld cellphone while driving. Here are the main points relating to tomorrow's ban.

The ban:

Drivers may not put a hand on a cellphone while driving, including pressing a button to initiate a call or holding a phone up to their ear.

Cellphones can, however, be handled briefly and infrequently if secured in a cradle. Provided these conditions are met, a full phone number can be entered into a phone.

Hands-free devices are permitted, such as ear pieces and wireless speaker phones. Ear pieces can be handled while driving.

Restrictions apply even while stopped at a red light.

Devices without a phone function, such as portable music players, are excluded from the ban.

The penalty:

An $80 fine and 20 demerit points.

Other consequences:

Insurance companies have indicated accidents caused by cellphone use will be treated the same as those caused by speeding, and most claims will be paid out.

But many employers say they will take disciplinary action against employees who use a cellphone while driving on work duties.

Enforcement:

Police say there will be a "bedding in" period, when officers will "exercise their judgment".

"Dangerous texting" will not be tolerated.

Dangers:

Cellphone use contributed to 116 crashes in New Zealand last year.

Research suggests texting while driving multiplies the risk of having an accident 23-fold, and talking on a phone increases the likelihood of a crash by four times.

The ban is already in force in more than 40 countries.