Queenstown Police are disappointed with the number of people disregarding their own safety and that of others on local roads.
A two-day operation last week resulted in 45 people being issued infringement notices for using their mobile phone while driving or not wearing a seatbelt.
Sergeant Matt Hargreaves says many of the fatal or serious injury crashes in New Zealand involve distracted drivers.
¡°Using a mobile phone that is not hands-free means you are not paying attention," he says.
"You¡¯re placing yourself, anyone else in your vehicle and all other road users at risk.
¡°Likewise, everybody knows that a seatbelt could save your life in a crash. Not wearing one is just stupidity.
¡°This operation is just a snapshot of what's going on in our community so Police will continue to target all unsafe driving behaviours with further operations.
¡°Ultimately, we want to prevent people getting killed or injured on our roads, but that requires better decisions by those drivers who continue to take unacceptable risks.¡±
ENDS
Issued by Police Media Centre