Waitemata Police officers working on a national campaign targeting people who use their cellphones behind the wheel were left shaking their heads after a checkpoint in Henderson yesterday afternoon.

Officers based themselves on Lincoln Road and over a period of just two hours, issued 54 infringement notices for cellphone use.

But it was the recklessness of three of those people that really left officers dismayed;

-A man texting with two cellphones. One in each hand and steering with his knee on his steering wheel.

-A man using his cellphone in his left hand, steering with his knee and drinking a beer in his right hand.

-A woman texting with three children in the back of the car and towing a horse float with a horse inside.

“That sort of driving behaviour is frightening. To think that something is that urgent that you’d put yourself and others at risk is scary. If you’re that desperate to update your Facebook status, speak to someone, or send a text, then pull over” says Inspector Trevor Beggs, Road Policing Manager, Waitemata Police.

Police will continue to target distracted drivers, especially those using cellphones behind the wheel.

“We know that some will say this is just ‘revenue-gathering’, but what we saw yesterday just goes to show the real risks that people are taking behind the wheel, risks that could quite easily end in tragedy. Our only interest here is making sure that we’re not going to someone’s house to tell them that their loved one is dead because someone who was texting crashed into them. Contrary to popular belief, Police don’t get a cent from any infringements that are issued” says Inspector Beggs.

“If you’re having to steer with your knee then you need to pull over and finish that phonecall or eating that hamburger. It’s not worth a lifetime of regret if you kill someone behind the wheel because you needed to tell someone to get the washing off the line or your boss that you’re running late” he says.

ENDS

Inspector Beggs is available for interview. Please call Beth to organise.