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For New Zealanders, No More Phones As Sat-Nav Devices

Posted by timothy on from the fine-distinctions dept.

rixth writes "From the 1st of November, it will be illegal to use cell phones while driving in New Zealand. Today, the Government clarified that you can't use your mobile phone as a navigational device, even if it is mounted on the dash board."

15 of 364 comments (clear)

  1. Hands-free is allowed by Walking+The+Walk · · Score: 3, Informative

    Not sure what all the fuss is about, as you will be allowed to use your mobile phone via a hands-free kit. So as long as your phone does navigation over the hands-free, it's fine to use.

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    1. Re:Hands-free is allowed by Walking+The+Walk · · Score: 3, Informative

      Lots of the hands-free kits respond to voice commands. That's the point - otherwise how would you dial, answer, etc? I assume they would do the same for navigation. I'm sure there's a voice-driven navigation app for the iPhone. (If you know for sure there isn't, let me know, I'll invest in a local team to build one. Sure to be a money maker.)

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    2. Re:Hands-free is allowed by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 1, Informative

      Not sure what all the fuss is about, as you will be allowed to use your mobile phone via a hands-free kit. So as long as your phone does navigation over the hands-free, it's fine to use.

      I lived in NZ for awhile. They have one of the highest road death rates in the first world. Because of it they have really strict drinking and driving limits and I'm sure this is rated to toning down road deaths. People tend to drive normally in town but I noticed when they hit the city limits they tended to floor it which is a big factor in road deaths. The laws are pretty strictly enforced so it probably will save lives.

    3. Re:Hands-free is allowed by polar+red · · Score: 2, Informative

      but I cannot hold a phone to my ear.

      because : http://www.livescience.com/technology/050201_cell_danger.html "cell phone distraction causes 2,600 deaths and 330,000 injuries in the United States every year, according to the journal's publisher, the Human Factors and Ergonomics Society."

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    4. Re:Hands-free is allowed by kuldan · · Score: 5, Informative

      I understand a german drivers license is expensive and incredibly comprehensive... anyone know for sure?

      Yeah, I can. To get your Drivers License in Germany, you have to attend to around 15 - 20 Hours of theoretical classes, take a written test on them, have around 25 - 30 hours of guided driving until your driving instructor deems you fit for driving, and then have to take an approximately hour-long driving test (including: city driving, highway driving, interstate driving, parking, vehicle safety) with a state-provided inspector additional to your driving instructor - and if you don't pass, you have to take a few driving lessons and try again. (each try - including the mandatory lessions - comes you at around 300 - 400 $ extra).. expect to pay around $2.500 - $3.000 for your german license if you are an average learner.

    5. Re:Hands-free is allowed by commodore64_love · · Score: 4, Informative

      Hands-free phones should be banned as well.

      The American Automobile Association (AAA) has shown via study that the mere act of using or talking into a cellphone is a distraction & reduces response times below that of drunk drivers. People don't like to hear that, but those are the results.

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    6. Re:Hands-free is allowed by Runaway1956 · · Score: 3, Informative

      I wasn't aware of the AAA's study. More, I have problems with the AAA - they have given bad advice in the past. But, this study validates what the AAA says on the subject, with a lot more credibility:

      http://www.nhtsa.dot.gov/portal/site/nhtsa/template.MAXIMIZE/menuitem.416f74e8613992381601031046108a0c/?javax.portlet.tpst=4427b997caacf504a8bdba101891ef9a_ws_MX&javax.portlet.prp_4427b997caacf504a8bdba101891ef9a_viewID=detail_view&itemID=d01bab6383f62010VgnVCM1000002c567798RCRD

      Wow! It looks like I searched out one of the longest addresses on the web, huh? Try these http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/32035670/ns/technology_and_science-wireless/

      http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20090924/ap_on_go_ca_st_pe/us_commercial_drivers_cell_phones

      People who claim that they drive safely while using a phone probably think they also drive safely with .2% blood alcohol content.

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    7. Re:Hands-free is allowed by polar+red · · Score: 1, Informative

      Smoking just kills yourself

      That's just plain WRONG.
      http://www.lungusa.org/site/pp.asp?c=dvLUK9O0E&b=35422 "Secondhand smoke causes almost 50,000 deaths in adult nonsmokers in the United States each year, including approximately 3,400 from lung cancer and 22,700-69,600 from heart disease."

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  2. it's getting fixed by dodocaptain · · Score: 5, Informative

    Slashdot is a bit behind the times - Steven Joyce, Minister of Transport in NZ has instructed officials to fix this oversight in the law.

    http://www.iphonewzealand.co.nz/2009/all/breaking-common-sense-prevails-law-is-to-be-amended/

  3. As a Kiwi...This sucks. by ThePeices · · Score: 3, Informative

    As a New Zealander I cant say that I am very happy with this decision. I think that an exemption must be made for hands free kits for these phones/satnavs. The rest of the new law was banning talking on a cellphone or txting while driving a vehicle, is commendable, but common sense needs to bear with laws like these.

    This law needs amendment.

  4. So the other day I'm wolfing down by t0qer · · Score: 2, Informative

    One of those new Weinersnitzel Angus beef dogs, 2 Chili Cheese Fry's burrito's, and a large mountain dew all while driving. I was struggling with the box my Angus Beef hot dog came in, and recklessly looked in my lap to figure out why I couldn't get the damn box open by touch.

    I turn into a real stupid ass when I drive. My mind started to wander and I had this gruesome image of my head wearing a glass necklace (slang term for when your head goes through the windshield) with a hotdog still stuck in my mouth. This mental image disturbed me even further when I thought that some jackass would probably take a snap with his camera phone and my mug would be all over ogrish.com or the like for eternity.

    Then I finished my hotdog, chili cheese fry burritos and washed it down with my soda, all while driving with my knees.

  5. Bzzz no, you can't even look at the mobilphone. by emj · · Score: 2, Informative

    From the article "The restriction does not apply to navigation systems that do not have a mobile phone function" So they have a problem with mobile devices according to the article.

  6. Re:from TFA... by MojoRilla · · Score: 2, Informative

    I drove 8 hours yesterday with a 1.3 year old. Trust me, it is almost impossible to eliminate child distractions. If you don't have kids yourself you won't understand.

    I agree with the GP here. Sure, they can make looking at maps illegal, or texting while driving punishable like drunk driving, but they aren't addressing all the possible ways to being distracted. What about reading a paper while driving. A friend of mine got rearended by a man doing that. Or a woman putting on makeup while driving? Or a man shaving while driving? Or driving a dangerously modified vehicle? Or someone eating while driving?

    There are simply too many ways to get distracted while driving to eliminate them all with laws. The bottom line is that driving is boring and a waste of time, and we do far too much of it. We should focus instead on better safety systems, and eventually computer controlled cars.

  7. Rigged Tests by Totenglocke · · Score: 3, Informative

    I've read up on many (not all, so I can't say for ALL) of those tests and they all have one flaw to rig the test to show that cell phones are "bad" - they do NOT let the driver say "hang on" or put the phone down for any reason. I rarely talk on my phone while I'm driving because I have a manual and it's just too annoying. However, when I do if I get to a tricky bit of road I say "Hang on" and drop the phone in my lap or in few cases where someone cut me off and I had to hit the brakes and swerve, I simply dropped the phone and it landed wherever.

    It's not hard to shut up and / or drop the phone when you need to really concentrate on the road. The tests are going out to prove that cell phones are bad (not sure WHY they want that conclusion) and they rig them to show what they want.

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  8. Not True! Steve Joyce (MP) Clarified today. by �nertia · · Score: 2, Informative

    Steven Joyce has clarified that you will be able to LEGALLY use a Phone as a navigation device. And childed authorities for making such a statement. Story here: http://www.stuff.co.nz/technology/gadgets/2912318/SatNav-mobiles-won-t-be-banned-Govt -Joel W Pauling (aenertia)

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