Driven to distraction: most tourist accidents are preventable, says report

The government has squandered an opportunity to halt the string of horrific tourist accidents, says the car review website dogandlemon.com.

Editor Clive Matthew Wilson, who is an active road safety campaigner, has just released a 14,000 word report that contradicts many of the statements of the government and tourism industry regarding tourist accidents.

The report, titled Driven to Distraction, is a heavily updated version of an earlier submission to government.

Matthew-Wilson says:

“The government’s main response to the tourist accident epidemic has been to appear to be taking bold steps, without actually making any changes that would upset the tourism industry. For example, tourists are still able to fly in after a 28 hour flight, rent a car and drive into a lamppost.”

“A New Zealand truck driver would be legally prevented from driving his vehicle after a 28 hour flight, but somehow it’s okay if you’re an overseas tourist.”

Matthew-Wilson also criticised government claims that a competency test for tourists would breach New Zealand’s obligations under the international driver’s licence treaty.

“If we followed the government reasoning on a competency test for tourist drivers, the police wouldn’t be allowed to breathalyse a tourist, because that would be imposing a special test on foreign drivers.”

“The government is terrified of testing foreign drivers, because the evidence suggests many don’t have the awareness or skills to drive safely in this country. Matthew-Wilson says the problem is not restricted to drivers from any particular country.

“Of the drivers who’d fail a competency test when they first arrived in the country, some would just be tired and would be okay after a good night's sleep. Some would be basically good drivers who needed some retraining on certain issues— such as which side of the road to drive on. Some drivers simply lack either the awareness or skills to drive safely in this country.”

“The government first has to stop tired drivers getting behind the wheel. Then the government needs to weed out the ones who don’t know which side to drive on. Finally, the government needs to stop suicidal motorists ever driving in this country.”

“Until these steps are taken, the carnage will continue when the tourist season begins again later this year.”

Matthew-Wilson’s plan to prevent tourist accidents:

1. Restrictions on the renting of vehicles to tourists within 24 hours of arrival from overseas.

2. An interactive, computer-based competency assessment that must be completed before a vehicle can be rented. The same test would apply before a foreign driver could legally purchase a vehicle in this country.

3. A register of foreign drivers operating vehicles in New Zealand. Rental companies would be required to lodge details, in an NZTA database, of vehicle hires to individuals where their passport shows they have arrived in the country within the previous month. Where Police had concerns about the operation of any vehicle by a foreign driver, they should have the power to restrict the use of further vehicles by that driver.

4. Major changes to road engineering, including

a. the widespread modification of road signage

b. repositioning of marker lines

c. elimination of gravel on the verges of sealed arterial and popular tourist local roads

d. ongoing installation of rumble strips on both sides of each lane to alert drivers to possible danger (not just on the most popular roads, as is the case at present), together with the installation of median barriers and roadside fencing, where practicable, to prevent cars moving onto the wrong side of the road or driving off the road.

e. improvements at all major intersections, including improved signage, warning strips and intersection construction, to lessen the risk of collisions at these points.

5. Improvements to the rental vehicle fleet.

a. a requirement that all rental vehicles meet reasonable crash standards

b. a requirement that all rental vehicles have electronic stability control.

6. Encouragement of alternatives to self-driving.

ends

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