The use of hands-free technology should have been included in the Government's ban on motorists using cellphones, AA Nelson district chairman Gary Stocker says.
Mr Stocker today joined police and politicians in welcoming the announcement that drivers will face an $80 fine and receive 20 demerit points the same penalty as for driving 11kmh over the speed limit for talking or texting on hand-held cellphones.
"The AA believes that's about right," Mr Stocker said.
The ban is among 23 changes to road-user rules that will come into force in November.
"It's sending a message, particularly to the young people who are the highest offenders," Mr Stocker said.
The other group of offenders were business people, many of whom used hands-free cellphone technology in vehicles, Mr Stocker said. Studies showed it was "just about as bad as hands on" because conversation distracted driving.
"It's always a balancing act. This is a good start."
Mr Stocker believes the new laws will work similarly to those that made seatbelt use compulsory. People knew talking on the cellphone and driving was wrong but until there was a law against it, they would keep doing it, he said.
Between 2003 and 2008, 25 fatal road accidents and nearly 500 crashes resulting in injury have been attributed at least in part to cellphone use.
Anne McCabe, whose teenage daughters Lucy, 18, and Isabelle Simon, 15, died two years ago when Lucy lost control of her car while answering a text near Levin, said education programmes to change attitudes were vital to the ban being a success.
"You've just got to keep banging away and hope like hell something gets through. People say you get over it you move on. No such thing. I'm living it every day and it's just a nightmare."
Nelson Bays police area commander Inspector Brian McGurk said cellphone use had contributed to some serious injury crashes in the region. "The use is becoming more prevalent, particularly with the younger, more vulnerable drivers." He didn't think there would be any great difficulty enforcing the new laws.
Nelson plumbing firm owner Tim Miller said he hated to admit the law change was a step in the right direction. He already has hands-free technology but his employees don't.
"It is a bit of a concern when you have young kids who are so good at texting. I'm kind of with it, even though it will cost me."
Police National Headquarters spokesman Grant Ogilvie said "in theory" the enforcement could extend to drivers seen breaking the cellphone rules in speed camera photos.
"It's all totally dependent on there being a clear enough picture."
Transport Minister Steven Joyce said the cellphone ban was "not a massively hard decision".
Mr Joyce, who admitted to talking on his cellphone while driving, said drivers needed a strong signal that using a hand-held cellphone was not appropriate.
"Texting and driving, in particular, is a total no-brainer. We're looking for a change in behaviour."
Green Party MP Sue Kedgley said the overdue move was good, but the fine should be higher.
Telecom spokesman Mark Watts said any cellphone use while driving was distracting.
"There's a marvellous piece of fail-safe technology to deal with this. It's called an on-off switch," he said.
Clive Matthew-Wilson, editor of car magazine The Dog and Lemon Guide, said a law change on its own would not make a big difference. He said research showed young drivers tended to ignore bans and, instead of fines, police should be able to seize phones and return them by post.
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