Jacoby Poulain: U-turn needed over driving

It's not working though, is it? The aim of the new driver licensing changes that is.

The aim of the increased testing standard for the restricted licence phase is to improve the skill and safety of drivers, youth in particular, thereby increasing road safety. I wholeheartedly agree in improving the safety of our roads. I question whether in reality though this is actually being achieved.

Letting the evidence or statistics speak, novice drivers are to a large extent not meeting the standard. Approximately half are failing. This does not mean, however, that they are not on our roads. The tragic fatalities just last week of three, the youth driver being unlicensed, is a horrifying testament to this and the need to address the situation.

It was with interest that I read the response of Ernst Zollner, director of safety of the NZ Transport Agency, on this issue. I actually agree with most parts of his discussion but for my main following contention. It is not enough to merely raise the skill level required or "testing" standard of licensing.

What is also required, and largely missing, is the affordable and accessible provision of driver education and practical training to all in a systemised manner to ensure they achieve this.

The institution of driver education and practical training in all school curriculums and/or the creation of public driving schools would do much to advance this situation in my view. For many this may seem an outlandish proposition, however with our teen crash rates among the worst in the developed world a rather timely one I believe. A more robust, encompassing and holistic approach that actually addresses the existing barriers and practically assists novice drivers overcome them is needed.

Currently youth are largely left to their own devices to train themselves and to acquire the necessary resources to do so. This can only lead to ad-hoc and haphazard results. I agree that parents should assist in the manner encouraged, however many simply can't or don't.

Furthermore, even our multitude of well meaning and intended parents who do strive to assist I believe face a potential predicament. Xan Harding, a Hawke's Bay employer, wrote last week that most current licensed drivers would fail the test if they sat it today, not because they're unsafe drivers but because they don't exhibit the particular driving behaviours in the way testers now require demonstration of. I agree that this is incredibly likely. The new test requires a heightened application of skill and particular demonstration that current licensed drivers, aka parents or supervisors, have little or no knowledge of. If the teacher can't pass the test then chances are the student won't either, it's a case of the blind supervising the blind.

Government, as I understand, intends to further heighten requirements in that they aim to place much tighter time limits on progressing between stages of licences. Again, without also practically assisting people achieve this, I find this fanciful and bearing the potential of more unlicensed drivers on our roads.

I applaud that advice for parents and practice theory tests are made available online, however until the negative road statistics themselves actually reduce meaningfully more needs to be done.

On this note, and in attempts to advance this situation where we can, the Flaxmere Licensing Trust, Hastings District Council and the police among others have been instrumental in designing an initiative to assist eligible Flaxmere College students gain their learner licence.

Jacoby Poulain is a Hastings District Council Flaxmere Ward councillor.