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Youth drivers are to be targeted in a Ministry of Transport plan to improve road safety.
A document looking at the next 10 years in road safety is due to be made public at the end of the month.
Ideas being considered in the strategy include:
- Extending how long drivers spend on learner licences, possibly
doubling it to 12 months;
- Raising the minimum driving age; and
- Allowing drivers to sit a defensive driving course while on
their learner licence.
Ministry statistics show last year teenage drivers on restricted licences caused 146 crashes in which at least one person was killed or seriously injured.
Fifteen-year-olds can currently drive under supervision if they pass a multi-choice theory test.
Six months later, they can drive alone during the day and with no passengers if they pass a 30-minute practical test.
After 18 months on this restricted licence, they can sit an hour-long practical test to earn a full licence.
Calls for change
AA spokesman Mike Noon says the AA has been lobbying for changes to the current licensing system for years.
He says that the system has not been modified in 20 years, and that times have changed.
Driving is not what is used to be, he says, and changes need to be made to accommodate those changes.
"It's due for a pretty major review," he told Breakfast.
Noon says more needs to be done to improve driver training.
"We are not training young drivers enough, or well enough," he says.
He says young drivers need more practice, professional lessons and need to sit tougher tests, "so if you want to pass, you need to meet the standard".
Meanwhile, the Transport Minister says any changes to laws concerning road safety will have to be acceptable to road users, before they get the go-ahead from him.
Steven Joyce says while the government is spending huge amounts on road infrastructure, changes need to be made to improve the whole driving environment, which includes having a look at New Zealand's road rules.
He says doing a stocktake like this is a good opportunity to put all the possible changes on the table and talk about them.
What do you think about the proposed changes? Raise driving age, better and more training...? Have your say on our message board below:
Add a Comment:
Post new commentkane256 said on 2009-08-10 @ 17:03 NZDT: Report abusive post
Hey hold on guys. How many people were killed or seriously injured on our roads last year, a hell of a lot more than "at least one". And furthermore of the 146 crashes how many were really minor incidents that will always happen while someone is learning to drive regardless of age? Now I'm not saying there isn't a problem here but I think the problem has nothing or almost nothing to do with age.
aircraft1 said on 2009-08-10 @ 12:53 NZDT: Report abusive post
Currently having a 16 year old doing her learners time I think they need to make driving lessons and defensive driving compulsery. Parents need to take a bit of responsibility with giving out the keys as the process does seem a bit slow compared with our time. There also needs to be a punishment for breaking the rules for the driver.
JMC1 said on 2009-08-10 @ 12:51 NZDT: Report abusive post
NZ needs to follow the example of countries like Canada and make full insurance compulsory for all motorists. While an 18 year old kid can go into a dealership with a couple of grand for a deposit and drive a turbo charged Subaru off the lot uninsured nothing changes. If the insurance was going to cost $300 a month even with a clean record (at least double that if you had been in an accident) like it would in Canada that would be a different story.
jules2008 said on 2009-08-10 @ 12:49 NZDT: Report abusive post
15 is too young. You are a child when you are 15 - most 15-year-old can't grasp the concept of how serious driving actually is.....What other country allows children to drive? It's been 20 years since changes were made to the current system.
leistrella said on 2009-08-10 @ 11:53 NZDT: Report abusive post
The age should definitely be raised and the tests should be much tougher and defensive driving courses compulsory. 15 is far too young!!!!