Police say they are disappointed by the high number of motorists caught driving while talking on their cellphones during a major road safety operation in Auckland on Thursday.
The sting - which targeted dangerous driving - issued 308 motorists with infringement notices for a variety of offences, including talking on cell phones while driving, speeding, not wearing restraints, drink driving and running red lights.
"We're still finalising figures but it seems a large percentage of those motorists were caught using their cellphones while driving," says Auckland City District road policing manager Senior Sergeant Matt Knowsley.
"It's a major distraction behind the wheel and nothing on your phone is so important that it's worth risking yours, or someone else's life, on the road."
He says while most people drove safely in Auckland city yesterday, some continued to ignore the risks.
Seventeen notices were handed out for not wearing seat belts, which included children not being in correct car seats. Three were caught drink-driving. Fifty-five people were caught speeding, and one person's car was impounded for driving at an excessive speed.
"Operations like these aren't just about enforcement; it's also about having the conversation that dangerous driving just isn't worth the risk," says Senior Sergeant Knowsley.
More than 100 police were involved in Thursday's operation, which ran from 7am to 9pm.
Newshub.
