Rising Pressure for a Cellphone Driving Ban in New Zealand

Both of New Zealand's dominant mobile operators, Telecom NZ and Vodafone have supported rising calls for a ban on sending text messages which driving a motor vehicle. There has been a media outcry over the past few days after a 20 year old man was accused of killing an elderly couple while sending a text message and driving his car.

While Robert Stonestreet, 20, was sentenced in Christchurch District Court this week to two charges of drink-driving causing death, the judge said that the primary cause of the accident was his distraction while typing on a mobile phone.

He ploughed into the car of Beverley and Samuel Keating as they were returning home from their 49th wedding anniversary celebration.

Judge Bisphan suggested lawmakers consider making cellphone use while driving illegal.

Vodafone spokesman, Raphael Hilbron said that the company supported calls for a ban on texting while driving as existing safety messages were being ignored.

The New Zealand government has so far resisted calls for driving bans, saying that using a mobile phone was just one of a range of issues and that it is conducting a review in to the overall issue of distractions when driving.

Posted to the site on 14th March 2008