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Police want technology to scan phone use after crash

Texting while behind the wheel makes drivers six times more likely to crash than driving drunk, alarming new figures show.

In a bid to end the phone use while driving, the NSW Government is looking to buy high-tech sky equipment to prove motorists were using their phone at the time of a crash.

“If you take your eyes off the road for two seconds, you travel 33 metres,” Centre for Road Safety spokesperson Bernard Carlon said.

New technology Textalyzer is being trialled in New York. Source: 7News
New technology Textalyzer is being trialled in New York. Source: 7News

“If somebody is crossing the road you could literally hit them and kill them in that two seconds.”

In total, 90,000 drivers were caught using mobiles behind the wheel in the past year with 9000 of those near schools.

A crash scene where the driver was using their phone at the time. Source: 7News
A crash scene where the driver was using their phone at the time. Source: 7News

The Government is now getting help from overseas to prove drivers are texting or talking on the phone at the time of a crash.

Textalyzer is being trialled in New York, and allows police to immediately scan data from a phone after an accident.

The new gadget Groove. Source: 7News
The new gadget Groove. Source: 7News

Another American gadget, Groove, is being considered. Groove is a dashboard plug-in that blocks text and calls but allows GPS and music.

“We are looking at all technologies, including Textalyzer,” Mr Carlon said.

“Saving lives has to be our priority.”