Driving age to be lifted

15 April 2010

Driving age to be lifted

Federated Farmers is disappointed Cabinet has agreed to lift the driving age to 16 as it will not have any impact on lowering the road toll.

“The decision ignores expert opinion, including from the Automobile Association, that the way we learn to drive, particularly getting supervised experience is the key to improving road safety for our younger New Zealanders,” says Lachlan McKenzie, Federated Farmers acting transport spokesperson.

"What we wanted was to keep the age at 15 but vastly improve the way young people learn to drive. You cannot beat time behind the wheel.

"So arbitrarily pushing the age up won’t work. You just push the problem out one more year

"While I haven't reviewed the Cabinet paper, it was proposed to introduce 120 hours of l supervised driving. If people follow this rule to the letter it could push the real driving age out to 18.

"But you can't help but suspect parents and children will use this as a bargaining plank.

“These changes will hit rural areas the hardest. The restrictions will make work and community activities much more difficult for our young people who don’t have the luxury of public transport.    

"As this needs to go through Parliament we will submit to keep the age at 15, but with enhanced training. After all, you can solo in a light aircraft at age 16,” Mr McKenzie concluded.

ENDS

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