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Source: ONE News -
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New laws banning the use of handheld cellphones in cars have come into force.
Starting Sunday morning any motorists caught texting or talking on their handheld phone from behind the wheel face an $80 fine and 20 demerit points.
Leaving the station for the streets police have more to look for now than ever before.
Constable Don Taufa from the Manurewa Police says there are things the police look out for to give them an indication if the driver is using a cellphone
"If he's leaning to the side or looking down, that gives me an indication that he's not concentrating on the road or using his phone," Taufa says.
He says that people are now taking notice of the safe driving message they are trying to get across though.
This time two weeks ago it was easy to spot cellphoners being used by drivers but today it is not so easy as people appear to be taking notice of the new law.
However, one driver says the law needs to be looked at.
"Some areas are obviously quite challenging if you have to stop in a hurry to receive a phone call," Martin Mehrtens says.
He spends a lot of time on the road, and says vehicles stopping to take cellphone calls are actually making rural roads riskier.
Overall though police are happy with Sunday's response and with fewer cellphone users behind the wheel they say driving down the street has become safer for everyone.
