BRB… Getting Pulled Over

Tauranga motorists have been making questionable calls behind the wheel, and Police are more than happy to answer… with infringement notices.

In a recent hour-long mini operation targeting distracted drivers in Welcome Bay, 29 drivers learnt the hard way to put the phone down while driving.

While the numbers are alarming, Road Policing Sergeant Andrew Tarr says the biggest surprise was the number of people texting or using their phone with both hands.

“We were seeing some people with no hands on the steering wheel blatantly texting, while others were trying to do it a bit more sneakily away from the window,” he says.

“From experience, we know that inattention is a factor in a high number of non-injury nose to tail crashes in Tauranga, and those can easily become more serious. Things can change in a split second, and if you’re not paying attention, you may not have time to react and avoid a crash.

“We would rather drivers had a missed call, than a missed opportunity to get home safely.”

Sergeant Tarr says it’s not just about the safety of the driver, but everyone around them, including passengers, pedestrians, and other road users.

This mini operation is the first of many planned for the region. Sergeant Tarr’s advice is simple … put your phone on Do Not Disturb, otherwise Police might disturb your drive.

“If you need to use your phone, find somewhere safe to pull over,” he says.

“If you’re waiting for a message to put your phone down while driving, consider this your notification.”