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New Zealand likely to impose car cellphone ban
(Xinhua)
Updated: 2009-06-02 09:51

WELLINGTON -- New Zealand Transport Minister Steven Joyce said on Tuesday that he wanted action this year to ban drivers from using hand-held cellphones.

Joyce would seek rule changes to ban voice calls and texting, subject to recommendations from officials and Cabinet approval.

The Transport Ministry is preparing a report based on public consultation on the use of cellphones while driving.

Steven Joyce said he expects to hear from the ministry in the next few weeks and will take the recommendations to Cabinet.

Joyce said he was keen for the cellphone issue to be given high priority.

Road safety researchers said using a cellphone while driving increases the risk of crashing by up to nine times.

Cellphone use was blamed for 96 crashes in 2007 in New Zealand, according to a New Zealand Herald report.

Drivers are likely to be allowed to hold conversations on hands- free connections, despite research at a simulator at Waikato University showing this is little or no safer than using a hand- held phone.