Mobile phone driving: Cops fear many missing the message

A man checks his mobile phone while driving. File photo / Natalie Slade

Police are concerned drivers are getting complacent about using mobile phones after the number caught using them has doubled since 2010.

More than 60,000 motorists have been pinged since the ban in mobile phones came into effect in 2009 - almost half of them in Auckland.

Last year 15,440 had been caught using cellphones while driving by the end of September - almost double the 2010 tally with three months still to go.

In 2010, just over 8200 people were caught using their phones while driving. Fines now total more than $1 million a year and almost $5 million has been collected since the end of 2009.

Police Assistant Commissioner Dave Cliff said only one survey had been done of cellphone use so it was difficult to say whether the increase was due to less compliance or stricter enforcement.

"Police are concerned that we are catching more people each year - we want to catch less as people get the message, but sadly this is not getting through to some."

Auckland police appeared to be most vigilant - almost half of those caught since 2009 were in Auckland, home to one third of the population.

The offence carries an $80 fine and 20 demerit points.