Workers' Party calls for compulsory driving academy

For Immediate Release

Sunday, September 23rd, 2007

Christchurch mayoral candidate Byron Clark is urging the government to introduce a compulsory driving course for young drivers.

Clark is calling for a government-funded professional driving academy to provide up to forty hours of instruction to learner drivers.

He said: "Unlike many EU countries, New Zealand has no requirement for professional driver training, or even any guidelines on who can teach people to drive."

Clark said age had been blamed for a number of recent car accidents involving young drivers, but driver skill was a key factor in preventing fatalities.

"A driver who starts to learn a year later isn't going have better car control," Clark said. "Politicians want to be seen to be doing something about the problem without spending any money."

The Workers' Party is advocating the nationalization of driver instruction providers, with the aim of providing free, ongoing driver training throughout the country. The Party supports a comprehensive course for learners, including practical instruction of car control in closed conditions, similar to that used in Sweden.

Clark said: "The sensible solution is to provide training to give young drivers the practical skills that will insure them for their entire driving career. We can lower the road toll across the board by getting to the root of the problem."

"93 drivers under 20 have died in accidents this year. How long until the government reaches into their pocket to save some lives?"

The Workers' Party is a socialist political party active throughout New Zealand. They are fielding four mayoral candidates in the upcoming local body elections.

ENDS

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