From November 1 the use of mobile phones while driving will be banned.
Two-thirds of us text or talk on cellphones when behind the wheel, but doing so after the law change will net motorists an $80 fine.
"You're about four times more likely to have a crash if you're talking on a cellphone and that's about the same increase in risk as if you're drunk", says Dr Tony Lambert of Auckland University.
For most drivers who have to keep talking, switching to a handsfree system will be the easiest and the cheapest option, but experts say it won't be the safest.
"The crash risk is about the same for using a handsfree phone compared to a handheld phone", says Lambert.
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