Funds can get young driving

HBRC Transport Committee chairman Alan Dick

Funding could be the key to address the distance that often impedes young people from the outlying districts from getting licenced.

This is why Hawke's Bay Regional Council (HBRC) is looking to secure money from local councils and the New Zealand Transport Agency (NZTA) in an effort to fund a community programme to help young people to get their learner licence and then a full licence.

Council chairman Fenton Wilson said HBRC intended to discuss the initiative with other councils and NZTA, but was confident of gaining funding.

"This is an important issue for the entire region and we need to find a solution," he said.

Mr Wilson said research showed learner drivers in Central Hawke's Bay and Wairoa had to travel significant distances to sit their driver tests.

He said it also showed many young regional drivers did not progress beyond learner or restricted licences.

HBRC Transport Committee chairman Alan Dick said this has been on the committee's agenda for some time.

"The difficulty in obtaining a driver's licence is an ongoing issue, especially for young people in rural and lower socio-economic communities," he said.

"Many young people often have to travel long distances to sit their driver tests and that's a real barrier for them."

Committee deputy chairman Rick Barker said not having a full licence prevented many from getting a decent job.

"There is a large need for young truck and heavy vehicle drivers out there and these young people don't have a chance of getting into a job like that without first getting their full driver's licence," said Mr Barker.