National Driver Education and Awareness Conference

Thank you [Chairperson] and assembled delegates. It is a great pleasure to open the second day of your conference which is aimed at bringing together the public and private sectors in a joint and common purpose - ``developing better drivers and a safer environment''. I would like to congratulate the AA Driver Education Foundation for bringing together such an innovative and exciting conference. I note that you bring together some of the most authoritative and knowledgeable speakers from both around the world and New Zealand.

I have a number of interests in road safety and in reducing the social and economic costs to New Zealand arising from road trauma. Firstly, as Minister of Youth Affairs, I have a particular concern to ensure that young New Zealanders are safe. Unfortunately, young people, particularly young males, are over represented in road accidents.

Young drivers, those aged 15 to 24, account for 27% of those killed on our roads, and 35% of those injured - yet they only make up 15% of the population.

Young people are characterised as risk takers. Risky driving is seen by some to be a way of demonstrating their manhood and skill. Making themselves look cool in-front of their peers is important. It's not surprising to note that there are often young friends in a car when a young person crashes.

Due to a lack of experience and an effort to prove themselves young drivers have a poorer perception of risk - to themselves and others. Young drivers often over rate their ability and under rate the level of risk. As we all know, you should never under estimate risk when you're driving.

It is clear that speed remains a major safety problem on our roads - this is confirmed by the statistics which also indicate that speed with the addition of alcohol, are large factors for young drivers involved in road accidents.

However, there is some good news. Recent figures from the Land Transport Safety Authority show that those under the age of 20 were the only age cohort to have experienced a drop in the number of deaths due to road traffic accidents over the past year.

So, perhaps the road safety message is starting to get through to young people. We have to acknowledge that and encourage further improvement. One thing that is for sure is that you don't become a better driver just because you get older.

It is important that our young people are able to participate fully in society, and one method of helping achieve that is to ensure mobility. We have a duty to ensure that our youth have access to the roads, but that they, and other road users are safe.

The Coalition Government has recently announced its intentions to introduce further measures aimed at ensuring that our roads are safe.

In 1987 the Government introduced the Graduated Driver Licensing System - an international first. Now we are looking to tighten that up and ensure that new drivers, of all ages, are fully competent - not only on the day of their test, but after a period of time they will also have to undertake a graduation exit test.

Also, the minimum driver licensing age will be raised from 15 to 16 years.

It was interesting to note that in Victoria where they have initiated a nil-blood-alcohol level for new drivers that that policy has already shown a marked decrease in the number of road accidents. In 1989 there were 776 deaths, and in 1995/96 there were 418 deaths - a dramatic drop.

Also another initiative out of Victoria that interests me is bars and restaurants providing free non-alcoholic drinks for people who are designated drivers. It is practical measures such as this that complement education and can make a real difference.

Consistently in Government and speaking to community organisations, I say that if you want something to work and be effective for young people, then you have to involve them in the decision making process.

By including the views of young people we are more likely to be able to develop initiatives that hit the mark. It also encourages youth to build a sense of belonging and contributing to society in a meaningful way - they get to see that what they think and do does make a difference.

In promoting safer driving, Students Against Driving Drunk have proved to be an effective way for young people to play their part. I would like to thank the AA for their continued support of this excellent organisation.

I also have an interest in road safety from my perspective as the Associate Minister for ACC.

ACC works closely with its other road safety partners to reduce the number of fatalities and injuries on our roads. In doing so, the Corporation is also able to reduce its premiums to road users.

Reducing road trauma is one of the aims of today's conference - it's not an easy task.

We have an increasing number of motor vehicles on our roads. It is true that this has been offset by safer and better designed roads, safer cars with features such ABS braking and airbags and more targeted enforcement by the New Zealand Police.

But while we can attempt to reduce road trauma by engineering out the problem, the greater benefits will be found by improving peoples attitudes and behaviour. There are of course the ``hard core'' and those recidivists who don't seem to care whether they kill themselves or others on the road. The government's road safety package has to target these individuals.

In September I officially launched ``Kidsafe Week''. This is an awareness raising week aimed at reducing the number of fatalities and injuries to children. I can recall that I was shocked to find that 50% of children who are hit by a car travelling at 50kph will die and 90% of children will die if they are hit by a car travelling at 70kph. These figures may be indicative but they definitely bring home the difference that 20kph can make. I am sure that most people are not aware of that.

I stated earlier that reducing road trauma is a difficult and complex issue. I also said that it can only be achieved if we work together in a co-ordinated fashion. The activities of the five key government agencies are becoming increasingly co-ordinated through the work of the National Road Safety Committee. The public and private sector mix of the AA Driver Education Foundation also adds an important mix to road safety.

This conference is an important milestone because it brings together some of the best experts in New Zealand and overseas to advise on the latest developments internationally. I hope that delegates are able to take some of the key messages arising from this conference back to their organisations.

I wish you well in your deliberations today and look forward to hearing about the outcomes.

All the best for the second day of the conference - and keep up the good work.

ENDS