24 July 2002

Transport Key Issue On Saturday, Says AA

“People have taken Transport for granted up to now in the election, but they could wake up to a major change in the way they run their lives if they are not careful with their vote,” the AA’s Motoring Policy Manager Jayne Gale warned today.

“Having seen the Green Party’s transport policy released yesterday, the public should sit up and take notice. Don’t take transport for granted when you cast your vote this Saturday,” she said.

Political parties are offering voters a range of solutions to our current transport problems and some are more credible than others. 93% of New Zealanders use the private car to get around every day. To suggest that the Government should expressly seek to force people out of cars by preventing new roads and increasing congestion and petrol tax, is wishful thinking.

“The Greens transport policy shows they see no benefit to cars. As an organisation representing over 900,000 motorists we have to respectfully point out that cars solve more problems for people than they create. That is why car use is and will continue to be the preferred transport choice,” Ms Gale said

AA research has found that motorists value cars for independence, convenience, and ability to undertake leisure activities and personal business. Doing without a car would have a major effect on 50-70% of households for daily activities such as shopping, visiting the doctor, banking, and travelling to work.

The AA believes that investment in roading must be increased, particularly strategic motorway links that divert cars out of the inner city. Impediments to roading projects need to be reduced, not increased, to ensure our road safety and congestion problems can be tackled effectively.

“The AA supports alternative forms of transport but it is opposed to any suggestion that New Zealanders should be forced to use them or that funding be diverted from our under-funded road system to subsidise them” Ms Gale said.

She urged voters to familiarise themselves with the transport policies of all parties before deciding how to cast their vote on Saturday.

Ends

© Scoop Media