Winston Aldworth: Worst drivers in NZ aren't tourists, so stop the lynch mob

Tourists stop on the road to Milford Sound. Photo / Flickr Creative Commons

Newsflash: The worst drivers on New Zealand roads are - drumroll, please - New Zealanders.

We drive too fast, we tailgate, we feel obliged to overtake the minute we see an overtaking lane and we mix alcohol - and text messaging - with driving. Sometimes while tailgating and overtaking all at once. In short, we're shockers.

Our latest bad habit? Following tourist drivers - sometimes even herding them off the road - and then snatching their car keys from them. The absolute worst: following up your theft of car keys by assaulting the driver.

These attacks on tourist drivers are one step removed from a lynch-mob carjacking. Sooner or later one of these incidents will play big in the media of the country where the visitors are from - and that will hurt our tourism industry.

A mate of mine says we suffer from what he calls the "Kiwi 'Peter Brock' Syndrome". As he puts it: "Kiwis all think they're amazing behind the wheel. In reality, we're terrible. Impatient, rude, aggressive. Self-appointed Kings of the Road. What do tourists know about driving, coming from their home countries with low road tolls and sensible driving practices?"

Which is not to say all tourist drivers are great. But being a have-a-go hero is not the answer. Seen a bad driver? Call *555 and tell the cops.