Poll: Do you support the fine increase for using a mobile while driving from $80 to $150?
Drivers have been captured on camera boldly using their phones while driving, to video call, text and make calls.
The footage, taken in Auckland, comes as the Government increased the cost of a fine for using a cellphone while driving from $80 to $150.
Over the course of a week, ahead of the fine increase, a Stuff visual journalist captured numerous people using their phones while driving, including a woman who appeared to be on a video call while passing through an intersection, a man speaking on the phone and numerous people texting or looking at their phone.
Last year, police issued more than 40,000 infringement notices for the offence.
A driver for Dingo Groundworx NZ was captured using their phone while driving a truck along Williamson Ave, in Ponsonby.
Owner Cameron Hadley told Stuff all employees were very aware they should not be using their phones while driving.
He said he would be raising the issue in a staff meeting.
AA road safety spokesman Dylan Thomsen told Stuff he wasn’t surprised to hear about the woman video calling while driving.
While AA supports the Government’s fine increase, Thomsen said it wasn’t going to solve the problem.
“People just can’t resist the temptation if they hear their phone go off ... it’s not something you do by accident.”
“A lot of people use their phone behind the wheel and don’t do other risky things.”
He hopes as there are further advancements in technology, phone companies can have default “do not disturb” modes that activate as soon as drivers start moving in their car.
“Until we change the mindset it will be hard with enforcement alone, people don’t appreciate the risks until it’s too late,” Thomsen said.
To see video footage, go here:
www.stuff.co.nz...
*Please put NFP if you do not want your comments used by Stuff.
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90.2% Yes
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8% No
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1.8% Unsure- it's too complex
Live Q&A: Garden maintenance with Crewcut
This Wednesday, we're having another Neighbourly Q&A session. This time with John Bracewell from Crewcut.
John Bracewell, former Black Caps coach turned Franchisee Development Manager and currently the face of Crewcut’s #Movember campaign, knows a thing or two about keeping the grass looking sharp—whether it’s on a cricket pitch or in your backyard!
As a seasoned Crewcut franchisee, John is excited to answer your lawn and gardening questions. After years of perfecting the greens on the field, he's ready to share tips on how to knock your garden out of the park. Let's just say he’s as passionate about lush lawns as he is about a good game of cricket!
John is happy to answer questions about lawn mowing, tree/hedge trimming, tidying your garden, ride on mowing, you name it! He'll be online on Wednesday, 27th of November to answer them all.
Share your question below now ⬇️
Poll: Should all neighbours have to contribute to improvements?
An Auckland court has ruled a woman doesn’t have to contribute towards the cost of fixing a driveway she shares with 10 neighbours.
When thinking about fences, driveways or tree felling, for example, do you think all neighbours should have to pay if the improvements directly benefit them?
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82.5% Yes
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14.8% No
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2.7% Other - I'll share below
Move for Good! Peer fundraising to save rescued baby wild birds
BirdCare Aotearoa, NZ's largest wild bird hospital and rehabilitation centre, is a special charity based in Waitākere, Auckland providing life-saving care to around 6,000 wild birds rescued by community members each year. Many of these patients are endangered native and endemic species. It’s currently baby bird season, and we urgently need to raise enough funds to cover the significant cost of the specialised care required for raising the thousands of orphaned and injured baby birds we receive in our dedicated nurseries during summertime.
As part of our current fundraising campaign, we have launched 'Move for Good', a peer fundraiser encouraging people of all ages to get out into nature and participate in an event (e.g. a walk, run, cycle or swim) or a hike, bushwalk, orienteering, or other fun outdoor activity (e.g. Birdie Bingo shown on our website) and invite friends and family to join or sponsor their challenge, to raise funds to help our hospital continue saving rescued baby birds.
Move for Good is proudly supported by Allbirds and Tree Adventures, and everyone who registers will go in the draw to win a pair of eco-friendly Allbirds sneakers or a Tree Adventures double pass.
We’ll give away a Give a Hoot tote bag from our Digitees store to the first five participants to complete a challenge before 22nd December.
Further details available in these links:
Givealittle page, for creating a Move for Good fundraising page or donating directly to our baby bird campaign - givealittle.co.nz...
Move for Good page on our website - birdcareaotearoa.org.nz... (contains a registration form for your challenge)
It will be absolutely wonderful if our neighbourhood communities would like to participate in our Move for Good campaign to save rescued baby birds!
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