Drivers Okay With R Plates

"R" plates for restricted drivers are not law yet but Whakatane people are accepting of the idea.

The Government is looking into the idea of people on their restricted licences having to display an "R" plate on their vehicle in much the same way as learner drivers do with an "L" plate.

A restricted licence is the second step in New Zealand's three-tier licence system.

Drivers in Australia follow a similar rule, with drivers on their provisional licence needing to display a "P" plate.

Associate Minister of Transport Simon Bridges said the Government would consider the option this year as part of a re-evaluation of licensing.

Tayla Poloai, 17, who earned her restricted licence in February, said if "R" plates were introduced in New Zealand, it might make other drivers more understanding towards restricted drivers as they were still not "fully qualified".

She said it would be a "shame" to have the plates on her car, but if it was a law she would have to do it or get a fine.

Miss Poloai said she thought the licence age should be raised.

Whakatane District Council road safety co-ordinator Maurice Tooke said having "R" plates would improve the speed in which people moved through the steps of getting their licence.

"People will be less inclined to want an 'R' on their car for long lengths of time.

"People on their restricted won't want to hang around for three years with plates on their cars and do their best to get it sorted in 18 months, which would be a positive approach - although I don't know how much adherence there is for people using their 'L' plates. There are still lots of people who spend many years on their learners."

Mr Tooke said it was good for road safety to encourage people to get their full licence as it would show they were committed to being a safe driver.

He also said he would like to think drivers were more forgiving of people who displayed an "L" plate on their car, and hoped the same principal would apply to those with an "R" plate.

"In terms of those on their restricted, you've got to understand these aren't drivers with a lot of history behind them."

The AA is yet to form a view on the proposed plates, but says drivers are most at risk in the first nine months of driving solo.

Waikato University road safety researcher Dr Robert Isler considered "R" plates more crucial than "L" plates.

"When drivers are on their restricted licences, their risk increases between eight to 10 times," he said.

"They take risks when they shouldn't, because they haven't got the experience."

John Finch, whose organisation Right Track runs programmes across the upper North Island for high-risk young drivers, said: "The whole R plate is a very good idea. The greater the awareness of these young drivers to other drivers, the better."

However, he added that globally, punitive approaches to tackling the issue had proven unsuccessful.

- Additional reporting APNZ