After a spate of young driver-related deaths it appears probable that the minimum driving age will rise from 15 years to 17 years. This increase will of course make a difference to road fatalities, however it will not end the pattern of youth-related deaths. What is often not appreciated is the nature of those deaths. At the moment the license precludes the young drivers from having passengers. The problem is that young drivers routinely breach this rule, and the fact that alcohol is illegal is little discouragement since its easy for kids to get alcohol. It is a recipe for disaster.
NZ is of course a rural-based economy so no youth license is an obstacle for rural families more than city families. I can understand the need to raise the driving age, but actually kids up to 25yo tend to be pretty irresponsible. I would suggest a string of other measures:
1. A link in the driving age to school results. Kids who show a strong average school grade should only be given the right to get an early drivers license.
2. Continued restriction on youth drivers having passengers
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