More than half of young Kiwi drivers in AA survey admit to texting and messaging while driving
Of the 1042 drivers aged 18 to 25 surveyed by the AA Research Foundation in 2025, 23% admitted to scrolling social media while behind the wheel.
The NZ Transport Agency (NZTA) estimates a driver is about four times more likely to be involved in a crash when using a phone.
The AA and Kaitiaki o Ara/Students Against Dangerous Driving (Sadd) are advocating for young drivers to turn on the do-not-disturb feature on their phones before getting behind the wheel.
Sadd general manager Donna Govorko said younger drivers are significantly more prone to phone distractions.
Turning on the feature, which silences notifications, would help young motorists stay focused while on the road, said Govorko.
“This is the generation who have grown up in a time when social media and mobile phones are rooted in our daily lives, but we cannot let distracted driving become the norm when lives are at stake.
“That’s why we want our young drivers, and indeed all drivers, to try out the ‘do not disturb’ feature on their smartphone whenever they are behind the wheel.
“By removing the temptation of alerts and vibrations, hopefully people are more likely to concentrate on the road ahead and their actions behind the wheel.”
New Zealand’s young drivers have the highest rates of road deaths in the OECD.
The rates are also substantially above those of older age groups in New Zealand, said the AA.
Its road safety spokesman, Dylan Thomsen, said if New Zealand had the same rate of road deaths among young people as Australia does, 20 fewer Kiwis would die each year.
He believes the use of the do-not-disturb feature “could be a game changer”.
Turning it on before driving is a quick, easy, and effective strategy to limit distractions, he said.
Sadd is encouraging New Zealand youth to “show up” for their peers and take responsibility for their choices in its newest road safety campaign.
“Getting your mate to buckle up, stopping your friend from driving drunk, or pointing out do-not-disturb to your driver are all simple and potentially life-saving ways our rangatahi can make a difference,” said Govorko.
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Some Choice News!
DOC is rolling out a new tool to help figure out what to tackle first when it comes to protecting our threatened species and the things putting them at risk.
Why does this matter? As Nikki Macdonald from The Post points out, we’re a country with around 4,400 threatened species. With limited time and funding, conservation has always meant making tough calls about what gets attention first.
For the first time, DOC has put real numbers around what it would take to do everything needed to properly safeguard our unique natural environment. The new BioInvest tool shows the scale of the challenge: 310,177 actions across 28,007 sites.
Now that we can see the full picture, it brings the big question into focus: how much do we, as Kiwis, truly value protecting nature — and what are we prepared to invest to make it happen?
We hope this brings a smile!
🎉 Riddle me this, legends! 🎉
He/She who makes it, sells it.
He/She who buys it, doesn't use it.
The user doesn't know they are using it.
What is it?
(Shezz from Ngāruawāhia kindly provided this head-scratcher ... thanks, Shezz!)
Do you think you know the answer? Simply 'Like' this post if you know the answer and the big reveal will be posted in the comments at 2pm on the day!
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Scam Alert: Bank cold calls
ASB is warning customers about reports of cold calls from scammers claiming to be from ASB. These scammers are trying to obtain personal information, including usernames, dates of birth, and verification codes sent to your mobile phone.
🛡️ The "Caller Check" Test
If you get a call from someone claiming to be from ASB and you’re unsure, just ask them for a Caller Check. You will then be able to verify the call through the app.
Remember, banks will:
❌ Never ask for your banking passwords, PINs, or verification codes
❌ Never need to know your full credit card number – especially the CVC
❌ Never ask you to download software or remotely access your device
❌ Never ask you to purchase gift cards or transfer funds.
If you have received a phone call and think your account has been compromised, call ASB on 0800 ASB FRAUD (0800 272 372), or visit your local branch.
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