KEY POINTS:
Deaths and injuries caused by drivers using cellphones have soared in the past 12 years, prompting Government moves to ban the use of hand-held phones.
Between 2002 and last year, cellphone-distracted motorists caused 26 fatalities and 411 injury crashes. Last year 139 people were killed or injured in such crashes - up from 120 in 2006 and 101 in 2005.
The number has steadily increased since 1996 when just eight minor injuries were recorded.
The figures - and a British study which shows drivers who text are more impaired than drink-drivers - have added weight to the Government push to ban hand-held cellphones.
The use of hand-held cellphones is banned in at least 45 countries and officials here are proposing a $50 fine and 25 demerit points.
The proposed change is currently open for public submissions and the Herald on Sunday can reveal even telecommunications giants Vodafone and Telecom support the move.
"Telecom supports the proposed rule change regarding mobile use in cars," spokeswoman Rebecca Earl said. "For some time now we have been encouraging our customers to avoid unnecessary distractions and advised against using a mobile phone while driving."
Telecom had been meeting officials and would make a submission.
Vodafone spokesman Tom Newitt said the business would make a submission in support of the proposed ban. The company already had an internal policy forbidding staff from using hand-held mobile phones or sending or reading text messages or emails while driving.
Vodafone was more worried about driver safety and being a responsible business than revenue loss, he said.
With key players all seemingly backing the proposed law, the only bone of contention is whether a fine and demerit points are warranted.
Police, who would end up enforcing any new road law, would not be drawn on their stance.
"Any position we have will be conveyed as appropriate in any advice we may be required to give to the ministry and/or the select committee," said media manager Jon Neilson.
"This will be a matter for them to release as they see appropriate."
The Automobile Association and the Taxi Federation both support a $50 fine but believe 25 demerit points is too high.
"We are very pleased that the Government will run an awareness and education campaign before any ban is introduced," said AA spokesman Mike Noon. "We thought 25 demerit points is too high, I would suggest 10 is an appropriate number to start with.
"We do not want to have motorists just getting fined and collecting demerits, we want them to understand how unsafe it is to use their mobile phones while driving."
NZ Transport Agency (formerly Land Transport NZ) spokesman Andy Knackstedt said the agency was waiting to receive and review all submissions before making any recommendations on appropriate driver punishments.
So far only 16 public submissions had been received.
Knackstedt said six of the submissions supported the proposed ban, while the other 10 related to other changes, including signalling requirements for cyclists and maximum speeds for mopeds.
Ministry of Transport spokesman Leo Mortimer indicated the decision to ban hand-held phones was clearcut, with evidence that drivers were four times more likely to die if they text or talk on phones.
Other overseas research has shown that driving while using either a hand-held or hands-free mobile can be as dangerous as driving at the legal blood/alcohol limit, and it increases the risk of being involved in a crash by 400 per cent.
A survey of AA members found that 76 per cent supported a ban on the use of hand-held mobile phones while driving.
Submissions on the proposed law close on October 16.
