Big drive to get full licence status

Helen Walker, focus group facilitator, discusses driving licensing issues with young drivers.

Efforts to address the challenges involved in gaining drivers' licences in Central Hawke's Bay are continuing with a focus group held last week to identify the issues and possible solutions.

For the past six months, a CHB driver licence working group has been engaged in the Community Driver Licensing Programme, a Better Public Service initiative aimed at drivers, especially those under 25, who have not been able to progress through the Graduated Driver Licensing System to a full licence.

Central Hawke's Bay is one of three locations chosen for the project, funded by the New Zealand Transport Agency (NZTA).

Community driver licence co-ordinator Natalie Hazelwood said one of the aims was to investigate the reasons why young drivers remained "stuck" on one level of licensing, and offer solutions and advice to those who wanted to achieve their full licence status.

"There is also a large group of drivers who are driving without a licence. The programme will look at why this occurs and encourage them to start their licence application process."

The working group has recently completed a survey among a number of people aged under 25 and eight people, male and female, and at different stages with their licences, have been selected to take part in the focus group.

"Having a voice is important, and the working group see it as necessary to ensure we get to hear from our young folk, notably in two essential areas - the issues, barriers and struggles with driver licensing, and the potential solutions."

With the project well over half way, the CHB driver licence working group is now looking at how a co-ordinated driver licensing service could be operated.

This could possibly involve building on the driver licensing and employment work carried out by Connecting for Youth Employment (CYE), working in collaboration with other agencies, organisations, iwi, community groups, employers and industry.

"Driver licensing is a high-risk problem that needs addressing in the CHB community," said Ms Hazelwood.

"Reducing the number of young people being prosecuted for breaching their driver licence conditions is key, as this type of offending can lead to other more serious crime.

"Not having the right driver's licence is also an obstacle to employment, and we know this is an issue for job seekers."