Cellphone use in cars on police radar

Three years on from a national ban on using cellphones while driving, Christchurch motorists appear to be ignoring the safety message.

Police have begun a week-long crackdown against a practice blamed for 28 road deaths around the country since early 2007 - including two this year.

But Christchurch drivers seem willing to risk an $80 infringement fee plus 20 demerit points as these photographs taken around the city yesterday clearly show.

The number of tickets issued in Canterbury has risen steadily since the ban came into effect on November 1, 2009, according to latest statistics.

In the year to October 2012, police issued 1101 tickets locally, rising to 1682 the following year and 2817 in the last 12 months.