The NZ Transport Agency is launching a new safety campaign encouraging Kiwis to enjoy a break from the constant demands of their mobile phones by switching them off while driving.

The Let Driving Distract You campaign encourages drivers to see the car as a safe-haven from the never-ending stream of dings, likes, tags, memes, messages and emails coming from our phones.

Sitting behind the wheel is a place where you can and should be free from the distraction of your phone.

'Driving while distracted can have fatal consequences, and there is no better reason for not replying to a message or a phone call than ‘sorry, I was driving',' says the NZTA.

'Mobile phones are a totally ingrained part of everyday, modern life. With this campaign the Transport Agency is providing a positive message to help people make the right decision to keep safe by resisting the urge to be on their phones while driving.

'It's unrealistic to expect that drivers won't be distracted from time to time. However, within a Safe System, drivers need to ensure their journeys are safe by reducing the risk of driver distraction wherever they can.

'Mobile phones are well and truly interwoven into our daily life. We use them for everything and for long periods of time each day. That includes when we're behind the wheel.

'Four of the top five most common distracted driving activities can now be done on a smart phone – texting, talking on a mobile phone, using a GPS or navigation system and adjusting music.”

And this is reflected in crash statistics. Driver distraction was identified as a contributing factor in 12 fatal crashes, 155 serious injury crashes and 956 minor injury crashes in 2018. Please note that crash data for 2018 is not yet complete. Data is for all crashes reported by the Police to the NZ Transport Agency for the year 2018 as recorded at June 19 2019.

For further information on driver distraction:

https://www.nzta.govt.nz/safety/driving-safely/driver-distraction/driver-distraction-advertising/