Recession behind lower road toll – expert

Claims by the police that new rules have lowered the road toll are probably wishful thinking, says the car buyers’ Dog & Lemon Guide.

Editor Clive Matthew-Wilson says: “Aside from the ban on using cellphones while driving, which is widely ignored, the police aren’t really doing anything they weren’t doing before.”

“ A more plausible explanation is that the highest risk group, which is young working-class males who live at the edge of the law – are less likely to be employed, therefore they are driving less, therefore they are a less of risk to themselves and others.”

“You only have to look at the number of vehicles running out of petrol on Auckland motorways to get confirmation that the recession is dramatically affecting people’s driving habits.”

A major report by Australian road safety researchers (see attachment) noted:

“ some researchers have argued that particular instances of major fluctuations in crash numbers can be explained entirely in terms of changing economic conditions”.

Matthew-Wilson adds: “New Zealand’s road safety strategy should be based on science, not wishful thinking.”

ENDS

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