One more year too long for teens

by Martin Tiffany | 4th March 2010

Not good.

This is the reaction of Tauranga 14-year-old Jamie Fraser to the announcement by the Government that it is moving to raise the driving age from 15 to 16.

"It's not really good," Miss Fraser said.

"I reckon they shouldn't. Just because a few others cause trouble in cars shouldn't mean everyone else is punished."

The Otumoetai College student said  everyone  in her year at school was hanging out to turn 15 so they could get their learner licence.

As she doesn't turn 15 until February next year she will probably   have to wait until she is 16 before she can apply.

Raising the driving age to 16 would mean drivers would be at least 16  by the time they got behind the wheel by themselves.

Yesterday  Transport Minister Steven Joyce released a new 10 year strategy designed to reduce the number of people killed and seriously injured on our roads over the next decade.

In particular the Government will implement a number of measures designed to reduce the number of fatal and serious crashes involving young drivers as one of the first actions the strategy.

Federated Farmers is urging the Government to think again and said lifting the eligible driver licensing age will put young rural adults at a considerable disadvantage when it comes to work, socialising and community activities.