Mobile phones fingered as district's road deaths rise

The number of fatal crashes on the Waitemata District's roads this year has already surpassed 2008, with police reporting that cellphones are increasingly featuring as a cause.

Twenty-nine people have been killed in Waitakere, North Shore, Rodney and Motorways districts, two more than the whole of last year.

Last year's total of 27 was the lowest since 2000, the year the serious crash unit was formed.

The annual average is 35-38, according to Sergeant Stu Kearns of the unit.

He said use of cellphones had featured as a cause in an increased number.

His unit checked the phone records of every person involved in a serious motor vehicle collision, as a matter of course. "We get a warrant and check it out to make sure they weren't texting or ringing."

Mr Kearns urged motorists not to text or talk on the phone while driving.

"It's a huge distraction for people, texting and talking on the cellphone, and it's shown overseas that it can be a huge contributing factor towards crashes.

"Even checking your messages or trying to dial is a distraction. All it takes is for traffic to slow and they look up and it's all over."

He said that alcohol, methamphetamine, cannabis and fatigue also counted as major contributing factors in fatal crashes.

Mr Kearns said the biggest increase was in the Waitakere District, which had "taken a huge hit".