PM up for looking at heavier fines for drivers on phones

Prime Minister Christopher Luxon has said he’s willing to look at higher fines for people caught on their phones while driving, after new numbers revealed a sharp spike in offences.

The latest figures from the first nine months of 2023 — obtained by Breakfast through the Official Information Act — showed 42,210 offences by phone-distracted drivers.

It’s a jump of nearly 25% from 2022, when there were almost 10,000 fewer during the same period. Currently, the fine sits at $150.

Speaking to Breakfast this morning, the Prime Minister said "people should not be on their phones while driving" and the Government was "up for looking at higher fines".

"If that’s a disincentive for people and they’re still not getting the message."

He said the minister would look into it in “due course”.

Bill Hammond's father was almost killed after a driver on their phone crossed the centreline. He said increasing fines was "a no-brainer, really".

"It just shows you the seriousness of what driver distraction does," he told Breakfast.

He said increasing fines was the "easiest and most effective way" of making people realise that distraction on the road "just leaves lifelong effects for people who are the victims".

Hammond’s father was left with a broken neck following the accident and has had a long road to recovery.

"His independence and his whole life was changed around from that day, and will be until he finishes."

"We see a very different dad than what we used to.

"The consequences are terrible."

New Zealand's fine for phone-distracted driving is relatively low compared to other countries.

Drivers caught in the UK could be fined between 100 and 200 pounds (between NZ$205 and NZ$410).

In Oman, drivers could see 10 days in jail – alongside a fine of 300 OMR (NZ$1262).

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