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Home / Hawkes Bay Today

MP disputes Labour's licence figures

By Sophie Price
Hawkes Bay Today·
16 Nov, 2015 09:20 PM3 mins to read

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Craig Foss disputes Labour figures on driver licences.
Craig Foss disputes Labour figures on driver licences.

Craig Foss disputes Labour figures on driver licences.

Today is the second day of our Licence to Drive series. In the next five days we'll investigate why youth are struggling to get licences and what our leaders are doing about it.

Craig Foss has hit out at Labour's numbers on driver licences, labelling them "nonsense, totally incorrect and inflammatory".

The associate transport minister yesterday challenged the figures issued by Tukituki Labour spokeswoman Anna Lorck that 25,000 people were not on the correct licence which has led to a $20 million socio-economic problem for Hawke's Bay.

Learning to drive is a basic life skill that sets you on the road to independence, but in Hawke's Bay, we are facing a $20 million economic and social challenge.

Tukituki Labour spokeswoman, Anna Lorc

She raised the issue, saying it was a matter of public interest, and that it was time to put the numbers on the table and come up with an action plan and recommendations.

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"We need a regional approach to support a drive for change so it can become more accessible and affordable for people to get their full driver licence in Hawke's Bay," she said.

"Learning to drive is a basic life skill that sets you on the road to independence, but in Hawke's Bay, we are facing a $20 million economic and social challenge with an estimated 25,000 people stuck in the system."

However, Mr Foss retorted saying Ministry of Transport figures show, as at October 20, 2015, there were 19,289 people with a Hawke's Bay address on a Class 1 (car) restricted or learner driver licence - he claimed this was only 3.6 per cent of all Class 1 restricted or learner licences nationwide.

"There is nothing illegal about being on a learner or restricted licence - it takes time to progress through the Graduated Driver Licensing System (GDLS)," he said.

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"Last year, we introduced changes to the system, including requiring drivers and motorcyclists to progress to the next stage within five years.

"This enables novice drivers and riders to gradually gain skills and experience and to progress to a full licence within a reasonable period."

Intersectoral Leadership Group chairman Lawrence Yule said the cross-sector body had made the issue a priority at a meeting held yesterday.

Mr Foss, who is a member of the group, said the Transport Agency also recently changed providers for driver licence testing.

Discover more

Driver's licence hard and costly for teens

15 Nov 10:30 PM

Learners need greater support

15 Nov 09:00 PM

Costs put brakes on driver training

16 Nov 10:30 PM

"VTNZ are now delivering a much better service, with significantly reduced wait times for testing," said Mr Foss.

He also disputed the cost of getting a driver licence, saying that for all three stages of the GDLS it totals $338.20 (see story page 7).

"Further improvements to the licensing system are on the way," he said.

"Changes will be aimed at improving the system's efficiency and accessibility while maintaining our core objective - ensuring, as much as practically possible, the safety of you, your children, family and all road users."

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