Student calls for bill to get tough on restricted drivers

Student Jay Duggan believes drivers with restricted licences should drive unmodified, smaller cars. Photo/Stuart Murno

Jay Duggan wants to restrict restricted drivers.

Inspired by a social studies assignment, the Year 13 Wanganui High School student is campaigning to get a bill into Parliament that prohibits restricted drivers driving vehicles with an engine capacity over two litres.

For his assignment Jay had to consider making a social change.

"I decided to do something I was passionate about, which is cars and driving," he said.

While the assignment is due on Friday, Jay wants to continue his campaign for change beyond that and on to Parliament.

Along with wanting to ban restricted drivers from more powerful cars, he wants learner drivers stopped from driving cars with modifications as well.

"I really want to see this happen," the 18-year-old said.

Jay has spoken to Whanganui MP Chester Borrows at the Riverside Market and plans to have a meeting with Labour candidate Hamish McDouall.

After posting on Facebook about the issues he was also contacted by the Internet Party.

But before his idea gets close to Parliament, Jay wants to gauge the thoughts of the Wanganui community on the issue, and he plans to set up a survey and a Facebook page for comment. "I'm wanting to get a bill into Parliament because I see it as a huge issue in New Zealand that needs to be dealt with. I don't want to see my friends wrapped around a tree or in a ditch."

He drives a 1.3-litre himself and said he noticed a huge difference in power when he hopped behind the wheel of a two-litre.

Jay said while he was on his restricted licence he came across accidents and was almost involved in one himself.

Jay, who is from Australia, said similar restrictions were introduced in Queensland and helped reduce accidents among restricted drivers.

"By the look it only made a 20 per cent difference, but 20 per cent is still 20 per cent," he said.

He believes the restrictions will encourage drivers to move up the licence scale faster.

Jay's Facebook set up for the community to comment on can be found by searching Increase the Restrictions at https://www.facebook.com/pages/Increase-the-Restrictions/311145739064684.