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Transport Safety Minister Harry Duynhoven has backed a ban on cellphones in cars - and is calling on other MPs to support him in changing the law.
Dozens of countries - including Australia and the UK - have banned the use of cellphones in cars, but New Zealand
has so far failed to follow suit.
In the wake of the latest texting-while-driving tragedy, Duynhoven made his feelings clear.
"I would love to ban it. If I were a benign dictator, it would be gone by lunchtime," he said.
"But in countries where they have bans, they still have people using cellphones while driving. The issue is changing behaviour."
Duynhoven said a public education campaign was required, hinting that a strategy along those lines might be included in a package of new road safety measures due to be announced on Wednesday.
"I hope that sufficient parliamentarians who read the reports of another young person who obviously wasn't concentrating on her driving will say it's about time something was done," he said.
However, he added, such a ban would be "very difficult" to police, and the devil would be in the detail.
"If you are in stop-go peak traffic in Auckland and you get a phone call, should you answer it?"
Police can already prosecute drivers for not giving sufficient care and attention to driving, he added.
The Ministry of Transport is preparing a report on the dangers of cellphone use while driving, which will be presented to the Government.
"There's no law against using a cellphone at the moment. There's the whole issue of driver distraction of which cellphone use is a part. But there's been no decision on it yet," said ministry spokesman Peter Burke.
However, he said, while it may be legal, texting and driving was extremely hazardous.
"Anyone who texts while you're driving is pushing the limits. I don't think anyone would condone texting while driving, it's a recipe for disaster."
Police spokesman Rob Lee said research had shown the practice was as dangerous as drinking and driving.
"It's certainly something police are becoming increasingly aware of.
"A lot of drivers are unfortunately their own worst enemy - they're busy talking and texting on the phone and fail to pay attention to what's going on around them. The results can be, and often are, crashes which cause injury and death."
Public opinion also appears to support a ban.
Last year a Herald-Digipoll survey found 77 per cent of people want a ban on cellphone use while driving.
