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Steven Joyce wants more restrictions on licensing

Steven Joyce wants more restrictions on licensing

Sat, 14 Nov 2009 7:45a.m.
The Government is looking at raising the minimum driving age and lengthening the time it takes to get a full licence, it was reported today.

Transport Minister Steven Joyce said young people aged between 15 and 24 were over-represented in crash and fatality statistics, and wanted to take new proposals to Cabinet early next year, The Dominion Post reported.

The options were to look at raising the driving age from 15 to 16 or 17 and extending the minimum time spent driving under learner restrictions to a year.

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

Mr Joyce said there were "too many young people dying on our roads", and the Government could not ignore the statistics.

The low minimum age at which New Zealanders 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.

NZPA
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Comments [35]

gtan
11 Oct 2010 8:02p.m.

hey im 14 teen and if they raise it i will have wait 2 more years stuff that keep it 15

Emma Forsythe
20 Sep 2010 7:06p.m.

Hey, what happens if you're 15 with a learners, but the bill is passed just after you get it? Are you allowed to drive? Please post if anyone knows?

kaitlyn
09 Mar 2010 3:21p.m.

you guys can't even spell, and sound like third graders and want to operate a deadly machine? get a clue. you guys have no idea whatsoever. what do you need your license for anyway? just to look cool? ha. Not when your driving a golf cart to school bitches!!

Tom
01 Mar 2010 8:53p.m.

Um i just want to say this is age change is all wrong considering the majority of crashes are caused by older people who are totaly drunk, i dont think it is fair people like myself who turns 15 on the 3rd of March this yr should have to pay for older peoples mistakes, All ive wanted to do for the past couple of weeks is get my licence, and the small majority of crashes with 15-16yr olds (which certainly is not 37% and we all know it) is caused because of older people buying young people alcohol or getting them drunk and causing them to crash, it is not our fault it is the older generations who need to sort their sh** out!!!!!!!!, also id like to say the government is hippocritical as one of the people in the government does something wrong like that minisiter with his card, does the whole government have to pay for it????? no they dont so sort your sh** out and start blaming the REAL people who are causing the crashes

renee
07 Feb 2010 5:25p.m.

they better not!!! koz im 14 and will b 15 in november and have been looking fwd 2 turning 15 so i can drive and it would suck for them to take it away from us!!!

sheriee
03 Feb 2010 5:19p.m.

i personaly think that raising the age limit would be really unfair to most 15 year olds who want to drive responsibly. i mean come on think of it this why when you were 14 you'd probly count the days untill you could get you learners permit. and speaking from my point of veiw as a 15 year my self it would suck to have my mum driving me around, its wouldnt be that great for them to waist their time as a taxi on their 15 year old teenager. what would you have wanted when YOU wre 14 and just about to turn 15

-K
16 Jan 2010 11:12a.m.

keep the driving age as 15 ,
because im 14 and i can get my liscense this year.
thankyou.

staceg
31 Dec 2009 7:06p.m.

17 would be a great age, but I dont think its an ago thing. its definately an experience thing.

Dont give a 15 year old a piece of paper and then say right now, you can go drive.

Driver training is a MUST. I reckon the government should be looking at subsidised driver training on race tracks (such as Manfield, Taupo, hampton Downs and Ruapuna).

Also, dont let anyone under say 20 get finance on a vehicle over a 2L or let a first car be anything over a 1.8L.

Then again in saying that im a true car enthusiast myself, and most of the crashes are caused by people in their late 40's and over. Its only the stupid youngins that get into a high performance vehicle that their parents bought for them and start showing off is the problems.

Lay off car enthusiasts and start looking at the ACTUAL contributing factors. Not just because we/they haev a "boy racer" looking car.

Keep it on the track.

Clare
23 Dec 2009 10:42a.m.

Age is not the problem, but its the lack of incentive to gain full licence. There should be a time limit on learners or restrited licences. Fail to complete with in time frame then you start again. Costly!!! Learners licence is on some occasions just a means of ID.

NEvermind
19 Dec 2009 11:39p.m.

just think of when you adults were 15 did you wanna drive???? or did you?????

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