Cellphone stop nets 218

Police are vowing to keep the hammer on distracted drivers after hundreds were nabbed using cellphones.

Police spotted 218 motorists using their cellphones at a checkpoint on Riccarton Rd, in Christchurch, during a crackdown on distracted drivers.

They make up more than half of the 413 tickets issued to distracted drivers stopped at 13 checkpoints set up in the same spot between 10am and 3pm during the two-week operation, Canterbury road policing team Senior Sergeant Scott Richardson said.

‘‘Considering the amount of publicity we had around it, we are very disappointed, and as a result of that we are going to be continuing to focus on it until we see a change in behaviour.’’

Richardson said police saw drivers who were eating, applying makeup, reading and allowing small dogs to sit on their laps.

They also nabbed a man on a scooter who registered an excess breath alcohol level of 620mcg – well over the criminal drink- driving limit. He was on his way to pick up his child from school.

A teenager on his learner licence was also caught drink driving, and two people were found driving while disqualified.

Police used a ‘‘spot and stop’’ technique, where offending drivers would pass stationed police officers unaware. A message would be relayed to the checkpoint officers to stop the vehicle.

The operation would continue throughout September and those caught using a cellphone while driving would receive an $80 fine and 20 demerit points.

‘‘So many people travel with their phones either on their laps or between their legs; it’s very dangerous, and when they stop at a set of lights it’s very tempting to have a quick look,’’ Richardson said.

‘‘The problem is if you’re looking at your phone and the light changes the cars behind you are going to expect you to move off normally, you don’t, and the next thing we have nose-to-tails.’’

Cellphone distraction appeared to be a bigger issue than people refusing to wear seatbelts in Canterbury, he said.

Ministry of Transport data showed ‘‘diverted attention’’ contributed to 1053 crashes in 2014 – 12 per cent of all crashes. Of those, 22 people were killed and a further 191 suffered serious injuries.

The social cost of crashes involving diverted attention was about $297 million.

Although legislation allowed the use of hands-free mobile phones, it was recommended drivers minimised the potential for distraction by switching phones off while driving, or pulling over to make or receive calls.