The phone\u2019s illuminated screen is visible through the Toyota\u2019s rear window as it travels along Viaduct Harbour Ave before turning left on to Customs St West, where cars are parked on both sides of the road.<\/p>\n
The person who filmed the footage claimed the motorist was manually scrolling through social media videos while driving. Photo \/ Reddit, transcodefailed<\/p>\n
The vehicle then drives over a speed bump, approaches a roundabout and indicates right towards Pakenham St East.<\/p>\n
The person who posted the video said they initially believed the driver was on a video call.<\/p>\n
However, they later realised the driver was \u201cscrolling vertically through reels \u2013 definitely IG or TikTok\u201d and was \u201cmost definitely interacting with the phone, manually scrolling through each reel\u201d.<\/p>\n
Reddit users condemned the driver\u2019s apparent phone use, with many saying distracted driving had become increasingly common on New Zealand roads.<\/p>\n
\u201cIt\u2019s f***ing crazy. I\u2019ve been riding alongside people doing motorway speeds texting and whatnot,\u201d one user wrote.<\/p>\n
Another said: \u201cI see this daily on my drive to work. We need to increase the fines to match Australia and roll out the cameras they have.\u201d<\/p>\n
Several called for harsher penalties, with one commenting: \u201cFines for this need to be the same as drunk driving.\u201d<\/p>\n
The footage follows a high-profile distracted driving incident last month, when a police officer was fined after a video appeared to show two officers watching a State of Origin match on a phone while driving a marked police vehicle<\/a>.<\/p>\n Counties Manukau Central Police Inspector MinHo Lee acknowledged public concern over the incident and apologised for the officer\u2019s actions.<\/p>\n \u201cWe want to be clear that police officers must role model safe behaviour on our roads and they should lead by example,\u201d Lee said.<\/p>\nA police officer was fined after a video appeared to show two officers watching a sports match on a phone while driving a marked police vehicle.<\/p>\n