Driving age under review 

Source: ONE News

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The government is looking at raising the minimum driving age and lengthening the time it takes to get a full licence.

Transport Minister Steven Joyce says young people aged between 15 and 24 are over-represented in crash and fatality statistics, and he wants to take new proposals to Cabinet early next year, according to the Dominion Post.

"We've had some horrendous accidents involving young people in recent time. There's a lot of concern in the community and I think rightly so," he says.

The options are to look at raising the driving age from 15 to 16 or 17, extending the minimum time spent driving under learner restrictions to a year, a tougher restricted licence test and benefits for those who do driver training or road-safety instruction.

The measures may also include restricting young drivers from high-powered or modified cars, impounding cars for licence breaches and nil alcohol limits for under 20-year-olds.

"I would see them in the package to go before Cabinet early next year," says Joyce.

At 15-years-old New Zealand's driving age is the youngest in the world. In Britain it's 17-years-old,  across the Tasman 16 or 17-years-old depending on the state.

Statistics show young people make up 16% of licensed drivers but are responsible for 37% of serious injury crashes.

Joyce says there are "too many young people dying on our roads", and the government can not ignore the statistics.

The low minimum age at which Kiwis can get a licence has been criticised in the past, and Chief Coroner Neil MacLean last year called for it to be raised following two fatal crashes in one day involving young people in Canterbury.

Kathy Condon has also been watching the driving issue closely since her paralympion husband Graham was killed by a 15-year-old driver two years ago.

"Fifteen, 16-year-olds just aren't mature enough to be driving and evidence just shows that. If we can put that age up hopefully we can save some lives. I mean they (youth) are killing each other but also innocent other people as well like my husband," says Condon.

But for the AA supervision for our learner drivers is more crucial.

"If all you did was increase the age then quite likely all you will do is the kids will have a crash and die a year later. What we really have to do is change the way we are teaching them to drive," says Mike Noon, Automobile Association (AA).

Young Kiwis however are not backing major change.

"We've always had the ability to drive when we're quite young 'cause we're a rural mainly. I think if you're taught right your should be fine," says one rural youth.

But with 122 dead and 800 injured in young driver accidents in 2008, Joyce is determined to see change.

Do you think the driving age needs to be raised? Tell us what you think about the proposed changes on the messageboard below

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madmeanmichael ; 2010-03-09 @ 19:27 NZDT  

it shouldnt be raised it will just show an increase in the age of people crashing

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ShianneV6 ; 2010-02-07 @ 17:42 NZDT  

No I don't think it should, I turn 15 this year and I have been reading the road code and watching how my dad drives for the past 2 years. I think it is unfair on the 15 year old's this year who have been so patient and studied, so they can be good and responsible drivers and that the law should punish drivers who have not been responsible not the ones who haven't done anything wrong.

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Ian I ; 2009-11-16 @ 18:36 NZDT  

Continual promises to invest in the youth of New Zealand have failed to feature in this bill which is set to deliver virtually nothing and will penalise the good youth of New Zealand to appease the vociferous few. Little thought has gone toward a graduated scheme where these young people could enter into driver training programmes at age 15 and graduate at as approved drivers. At least Insurance companies have realised if you teach people to drive through higher level driver training there are savings to be made, both of asset and lives.

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mumof 8 ; 2009-11-16 @ 12:46 NZDT  

no! most teens involved in serious accidents are driving without the correct liscense, are breaking the law and are over 16. those offenders will continue to flout the law regardless of driving age.I suggest.... tougher penalties..impound car and take offenders to police station to be picked up by parent. 0 alcohol limit. instead of longer learning period i suggest a logbook with required hours supervised practice. punish law breakers not responsible teens.

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Georgie_1 ; 2009-11-14 @ 21:48 NZDT  

I am fourteen, and even I can see that the driving age is ridiculous. Fifteen is WAY to low, and I think that the age for learners should be raised to 17. I think that other ideas such as 0.0 alcohol readings, year-long learner periods, defensive driving courses, and car-modification restrictions would all help to ease the problem. Even if not all of these ideas are put in place, something has to be done - 15 is unacceptable.

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