Tougher tests a positive move says V8 legend 27 February 2012

Kiwi V8 Supercar driver and youth driving advocate, Greg Murphy says the move to introduce tougher driver tests is a positive move to reduce New Zealand’s poor record amongst young drivers.

The new testing regime which comes into effect today, Monday 27 February, will see young drivers facing new and more challenging tests designed to more thoroughly check their capabilities.

With road accidents the single biggest cause of death amongst teenagers, Murphy says “The move to a longer, more exacting test is a good one. New Zealand’s death and injury statistics are a terrible witness to the fact that we have too many young drivers on our roads who have had very little supervision or training, and as a result, lack the key skills necessary to become safe drivers.”

While those between 15 and 24 years of age make up 13 percent of licensed drivers and riders, last year they accounted for around 31 percent of all fatal and injury accidents. And, even though there was a significant decrease in overall deaths amongst this age group last year, the majority of that reduction was attributable to a fall in passenger deaths.

Changes to the tests are specifically designed to encourage learner drivers to clock up 120 hours of supervised practice before they sit the test, with officials commenting that this level of preparation would be required in order to pass.

Murphy comments “The emphasis on supervision is great. I speak with lots of young drivers as part of the work I do in schools around New Zealand with groups like MTA, and find that most over-estimate their abilities. They don’t have the experience or skills, and their ability to analyse risks is not fully developed until they are well into their twenties. Getting good supervision will go a long way to helping address these shortcomings.”

The danger period for many young drivers is when they graduate from their Learners to Restricted License and are able to drive alone. Ministry of Transport figures for Fatal and Injury Accidents amongst 15–19 year old drivers show, that between 2008 and 2010, 44 percent occurred when the driver was on their Restricted License – more than double the rate for those on their learners.

“With many good reputable organisations and programmes such as E-Drive, AA, Practise, RTEC, Safeteendriver, Advanced Road Skills available to support young drivers and those supervising them, there is no reason why the reduction in the accident and fatality rates amongst young drivers cannot continue to be reduced. Support from Government will always be critical, but the changes over the past year will make a difference,” said Murphy.

ENDS

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