Inexperience No 3 crash factor

By STUART DYE

Young and inexperienced drivers have emerged as one of the biggest dangers on the roads.

Almost a fifth of accidents causing injury or death on the country's busiest roads are caused by new drivers without full licences, Land Transport Safety Authority figures show.

And nearly half of those crashes happen after dark - often at times when drivers with restricted licences are not allowed to drive.

The figures are for the past five years and were issued to illustrate trends in road safety.

Figures for this year have already shown that 298 people have died on New Zealand's roads. At the same time last year, 21 fewer people had died in traffic accidents.

The biggest danger on the roads remains drunk and/or speeding drivers.

Almost half of accidents leaving people injured or dead are caused by drunk drivers.

But in the Auckland region, where roads are most congested, new drivers have emerged as the third-biggest road safety issue.

It is the first time they have appeared as a critical category in the top four road safety issues.

The second-largest issue is vulnerable road users such as pedestrians and cyclists. Injuries to those people account for a quarter of the total social cost of crashes in the region.

Peter Kippenberger, LTSA Auckland regional manager, said new drivers were a growing cause of accidents across the country, but in Auckland the problem was particularly bad.

The number of drivers with restricted or learner licences involved in accidents had risen from 10 per cent in 1998 to 17 per cent last year. In some areas, such as Papakura, it was as high as 21 per cent, said Mr Kippenberger.

It was unknown exactly why there had been such a jump.

"Younger drivers are more inexperienced, careless, take more risks and come under peer pressure.

"This is well-known, but the new figures have popped up and surprised us."

It was thought the fast-growing population and more access to faster cars could be a factor.

This was especially true in Auckland, which had a large migrant population and huge numbers of students coming to the region.

"It is probably a combination of reasons, compounded by a younger demographic in some areas, such as Manukau," said Mr Kippenberger.

The figures are for a period from 1998 to 2002 inclusive.

LTSA chiefs say it is important to view them over a five-year period, as annual figures do not give a clear indication of changing trends.

The authority has made several recommendations, including enforcement campaigns targeting young drivers and restricted driving hours.

It could include a TV advertising campaign.

Other measures include the introduction of education programmes in the community and in secondary schools.

Sandy Mills, LTSA education adviser, said it was important to make new drivers aware of the risks of lack of concentration and attention, as well as the more obvious dangers of speeding.

The numbers

* A little over 143,000 Auckland region drivers have restricted or learner licences.

* Three-quarters of new drivers involved in injury or fatal crashes are aged under 25. The majority are 17 and 18.

* 68 per cent of those involved in crashes are men.

* 20 per cent of the accidents happen between 10pm and 5am, when those involved are not permitted on the roads.

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