`100 Cars Naturalistic Study' showed that using either hand-held or hands-free mobile can be as dangerous as driving at the legal blood/alcohol limit, and it increases the risk of being involved in a crash by 400 percent.

The Indian diaspora in New Zealand has urged all community members to support the move.

Jarnail Singh Rahon, general secretary of the Shaheed Bhagat Singh Memorial Trust Memorial Trust, said: 'Cellphone use by drivers is banned in many countries, and it's a good step to implement the same rule here in New Zealand. Using a mobile phone while driving is really very dangerous. The need of hour is to implement this amendment strictly.'

Amaninder Singh Brar, a horticulture student, said: 'Despite the fact that everyone is aware of life risk involved in using phone while driving, they do (it). The fear of getting fined or demerit points on driving license would definitely forbid them from using mobile while driving.'