Council supports ‘Better Together’ road safety campaign

Published on 16 May 2025

Whanganui District Council is joining forces with road safety partners to target people who continue to drive distracted and put the community at risk.

The council is supporting NZ Police, NZTA and ACC in May and June as part of the Better Together campaign to collectively deter people in our district from thinking it’s ok to drive distracted.

It’s nothing new that driving distracted with your mobile phone significantly increases the risk of death or serious injury, not only to drivers, but to everyone around them.

Distractions are a major contributor to crashes on New Zealand roads, yet people in the Whanganui District are still getting behind the wheel, hurting our communities with unnecessary harm.

Driving demands your full attention. Yet nearly 40 percent of New Zealanders admit to sending or reading text messages in a vehicle, while nearly 20 percent check or reply to social media messages when behind the wheel.

The campaign urges drivers to take a simple but powerful step:  Put your phone on ‘Do Not Disturb’ before you drive.

Whanganui District Council senior roading engineer Mark Allingham says as a community we must not tolerate this dangerous behaviour of driving distracted.

“When people decide to use their phones while driving, they’re putting not only themselves, but their passengers and other people on the road at risk.

“There’s simply no excuse. We’re supporting this campaign to keep people safe on the roads.”

Throughout May and June, people will be reminded of the consequences through education and advertising, backed up on the ground by Police enforcement and driver education.

Central District road policing manager, Inspector Phil Ward, says people should expect to see Police on the roads. “We’re out on the roads keeping you and everyone else safe with targeted enforcement to ensure drivers are fully focused on driving.

“There’s no excuse for driving distracted by a mobile phone. If you’ve been found behind the wheel using your phone, expect to face the consequences. It’s not worth putting yourself and others at risk of death or serious injury,” says Inspector Ward.

“Make the decision to keep yourself and others safe, because there's more to risk if you are driving and using your phone. Together we can make everyone safer on the roads, but we need your help.”