Decision on driving age due next year

It will be revealed early next year whether or not the legal driving age will be raised to 16 or 17.

The Government has a number of options out for discussion as it aims to cut the road toll.

They include raising the minimum driving age, extending the learner licence period to a year and impounding the cars of those who breach their licence conditions.

Transport Minister Steven Joyce says the Government will not introduce all those measure, but he wants to put a package before Cabinet early next year.

Young drivers make up 14.5 per cent of New Zealand's population and 16 per cent of all licensed drivers, but in 2008 they were involved in around 37 per cent of all serious injury crashes.

- NEWSTALK ZB