Nearly two-thirds of young drivers in New Zealand send text messages while driving, according to a new study.
The study by AA Insurance of more than 2,500 drivers aged 18-75 also found about 41% had talked on mobile phones while driving, without using a hands-free kit.
"New Zealanders have embraced mobile phones as a means of immediate and convenient communication but our research shows they are not getting the message in terms of driving safely," Chris Curtin, from AA Insurance, said in a statement.
"There is far greater risk when texting while driving compared with talking on a mobile phone while driving, because your eyes are focused on the screen instead of the road," he said.
While 63.3% of those aged 18-24 admitted to texting while behind the wheel, only 23.6% of drivers aged 25 and older had.
Overall about one in four women, and one in five men, had texted while driving.
Earlier this month a New Zealand judge called for a ban on using mobile phones while driving, after a drunk driver killed an elderly couple while he was texting a message.
"I doubt whether alcohol in your system was a significant factor in this case ... I think the primary cause was texting with your cell phone," Judge John Bisphan said.
Using a hand-held mobile phone while driving is illegal across Australia.
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