A ban on using hand-held cellphones while driving has made little impact on the number of drivers calling a free cellphone hotline.
Despite the Government banning the use of hand-held cellphone from November 1, police are reporting no "significant change" in the amount of *555 calls to the Police Communications Centres. (*555 is the number to call to report poor driver behaviour, non-urgent traffic incidents and road hazards.)
Figures released to the Otago Daily Times show police continue to receive about 24,000 *555 calls a month.
A spokesman said many of the calls were made by passengers.
Police recommend drivers pull over in a safe place if they are using the service.
The spokesman said the service should be used to report serious ongoing mobile traffic offending and road hazards that could cause safety issues for road users.
"We reiterate, the public should call 111 if an incident on the road is posing a serious threat to public safety."
