Exemptions for young drivers in rural communities are a possibility. Photo / Getty Images
Exemptions for young drivers in rural communities are a possibility. Photo / Getty Images
KEY POINTS:
United Future leader Peter Dunne is drafting a bill that would raise the driving age to 16.
He wants to test Parliament's attitude to the issue, a move suggested last week by Transport Minister Annette King.
"I've decided to test the will of the House," Mr Dunne saidyesterday.
"We've had quite a strong reaction from people who are saying shift it to 16 or 17 - and a strong reaction from 15-year-olds who want to leave it."
Mr Dunne said he asked about the driving age in Parliament on Thursday because of recent fatal accidents.
Ms King's response was that he should find out what Parliament thought about it.
Prime Minister Helen Clark said yesterday changing the driving age had been considered in the past, and there had been concerns from rural communities.
"Young people on the farm are driving vehicles from the age of 15 and often need to go off the farm to get to different parts of it, so that's an issue," she said. She also said a lot of parents of teenagers were worried about them hanging around in city areas waiting for buses and trains.
Mr Dunne said he was perplexed by the Government's attitude.
"On one hand there's the 'test the will of the House' argument and on the other hand there's the prime minister's comments ... I'm trying to figure out where they're coming from."
Mr Dunne said he was prepared to consider an exemption for rural communities, although there could be difficulties with that.
"Getting to and from school or work is one thing, going out on the town on Friday is something different," he said. Mr Dunne expects to have his bill ready by the end of the week.
It will be a member's bill and has to be drawn from a ballot before it is debated.
There is a short cut, which is to ask permission in Parliament for it to be introduced immediately. Mr Dunne said he was considering doing that.
If he does seek permission, and no one objects, the bill would go on the agenda for a first reading debate.
