New Zealand Makes Phone Navigation Illegal

Drivers in New Zealand are looking at facing legal fines for using their mobile phone while driving for anything other than starting or ending a phone call. That means that listening to music on the phone or using it, as a navigation device would be illegal in the country.

A new amendment called the Road User Amendment Rule 2009 would make using a mobile phone for GPS navigation illegal, even when dash mounted and hands free. Ironically, a standalone GPS device with the same features would not be illegal under the new law.

The new amendment states, "You can use a mobile phone held in a cradle while driving, but only to make, receive or terminate a phone call. You cannot use them in any other way, such as reading a GPS map, reading email, or consulting an electronic diary." Seems like a double standard to me.