Coroner calls for action on electronic devices in vehicles

A coroner’s inquiry is raising questions around the use of electronic tablets and devices in vehicles. 

It follows the 2018 death of 74-year-old Valerie Stewart who was hit by a delivery truck while crossing St Luke’s Road in Auckland. 

Coroner Heather McKenzie says the truck had an electronic tablet affixed to its inside windscreen which “significantly impeded or obstructed the driver’s view forward through the critical vision area”. 

There was no evidence the driver was speeding. He was convicted of one charge of careless driving causing death following a guilty plea and was sentenced to three months’ imprisonment and disqualified from driving for fifteen months. 

The tablet had an app widely used in the transportation industry which takes orders and jobs and lets the driver obtain signatures and other electronic proof of deliveries. 

The Land Transport (Road User) Rule 2004 states that a windscreen must be kept clear so that the driver’s view forward is not impeded or obstructed. 

“I recommend that Police, WorkSafe, and Waka Kotahi NZ Transport Agency undertake a joint safety campaign regarding the safe use of electronic tablets or other similar devices in vehicles,” McKenzie says. 

“I consider that such educative campaign would help reduce the chances of further deaths occurring in circumstances similar to those in which Ms Stewart’s death occurred.” 

Police will discuss further with Waka Kotahi NZTA and WorkSafe how they can best incorporate relevant educational messaging in future road safety campaigns.