90 dead this year and still no law change

Transport safety Minister Harry Duynhoven backs calls to raise the legal driving age in a bid to discourage teenagers from owning souped-up cars - but don't expect a quick change.

Ten young adults have died in the past two weeks in crashes involving speed and reckless driving, bringing the total number of fatalities in the 15-24 year age group to 90 this year.

While accepting the need for a law change, Mr Duynhoven said the public would have to wait until the issue came up on the Transport Ministry's work programme.

"It's all done according to rules. Rules take up to two years, certainly at least 18 months, to change. I've got legal people looking at how we might short-circuit it, but I don't have a way of changing that rapidly."

His excuses have been dismissed by National's transport spokesman Maurice Williamson.

"That's an absolute nonsense response. This needs action now, and it almost needs a crisis response. I don't know anything that the transport authorities would be looking at now that would be more important."

But Mr Duynhoven said the issues were a priority and a significant amount of work was being done "behind the scenes". He admitted the process frustrated him, but said the issues were complicated.

"I could tell the public what I think they should have, but that's what happens in banana republics. These are not simple issues. Knee-jerk reactions aren't a good way to make policy."

A review into compulsory third party insurance, the lack of which, Mr Duynhoven admitted, made NewZealand a "wild west" country compared to the rest of the world, had already started.

The scheme would work to discourage young drivers from buying high-performance cars because of prohibitive insurance premiums.

Next week, an initiative will be announced to deal with noisy vehicles, favoured by street racers.

Safety experts and motor racing legend Greg Murphy, who is working with officials, back the proposals.

"New Zealand and Australia have got some of the most lenient regulations as far as licensing systems and penalties in the world, and we've just become so complacent about it now we can't just fix it over night. We've had generations of bad drivers teach new generations of drivers bad habits."

Murphy called for the driving age to be raised to 16, harsher penalties for drink driving and restrictions on vehicles learner drivers could drive.

"There's nothing wrong with making cars look cool, but when it comes down to upgrading the engine or putting turbo chargers on, that's where your problems come."

Murphy said parents should look at the "disgusting" behaviour they were encouraging by paying their children's fines and buying them flash cars.

- Herald on Sunday