Kiwis expert on how not to drive

I have been lucky enough to have lived, and driven, in many countries over many years and New Zealanders are by far the very worst of drivers, says Eric Thompson.

When listening to the government's big, earth shattering and momentous statement on how they're going to resolve the problem of young driver deaths, an advert came to mind. "Well McCain, you've done it again."

The incumbent rulers of this country had the best chance in lord knows how long to rip up the current driving licence legislation and deliver something really worthwhile. But oh no. All we got was a soggy chip, namby pamby, poke around the edge approach that will achieve nothing.

Yet again, an opportunity to actually fix something has been put in too hard basket. I have now come to the conclusion that to become a politician, not only is there a requirement to have a slightly wonky moral compass, but you also have to be neutered before heading to Wellington. Tinkering with a problem only highlights how inefficient the lawmakers are.

I have been lucky enough to have lived, and driven, in many countries over many years and New Zealanders are by far the very worst of drivers. I'm not singling women, old people or boy racers out - I'm tarring you all with the same brush.

I'm not overly surprised really. Why on worth a 15-year-old would be allowed to be in charge of a tonne of killing machine I have no idea. They can barely string two words together coherently, let alone navigate a road at 100km/h.

Passing a test here is a joke. To be allowed to drive on a public road at 15, all you have to do is pass a multi-guess test and away you go. After a bit you get a restricted licence, which really restricts nothing, and after a drive with an instructor you're handed a full license. If you think that's bad, right from day one the 15-year-old can go out and buy some nutter-bastard, turbochanged rocket ship and be allowed to use it in public.

Before someone comments about how I've got it wrong, I've yet to see Joe Averages' car with dual controls in it for the required learner/restricted driver's fully-licenced passenger to take over when junior stuffs up.

Over the years I have been on two Institute of Advanced Motorists course in Europe, a skid pan course, two defensive driving courses, the AA Driver training course, and a BMW level two driving instructing course.

I'm also an ex-motorcycle racer and have had lessons from V8 Supercar and Porsche GT3 Cup drivers. I still don't think I've totally got the hang of driving yet. I treat all other cars on the road as if they're great white sharks and I'm swimming naked in the ocean with them with a cut on my leg.

Maybe that's why I've never had an accident in 30-plus years -but I've seen some doozies.

I think arrogance and an over-inflated belief in one's driving abilities are to blame through a lack of training.

An example. Recently I had a meeting in Ponsonby and lucked on a parking space just off the main road. I pulled in and as I was getting out, noticed the driver of the car in front was getting into their car.

I offered to reverse back to give her more room. The reply was not to bother as she had been driving in the city for years and could get out of the space easily.

I got out and locked the driver's door but had forgotten to get my brief case out. I went around to passenger door and as I went to put my key in the door, my car moved about three feet backwards and the key ended up scratching the door. The driver in the car in front had fired straight back into my front bumper. After much graunching of the gearbox, the woman found first and roared off without a word, leaving me dumb struck on the pavement.

That attitude to driving just about sums it all up to me - can't drive.

What Stephen Joyce should have tabled was -

• The test before you get in a car is NOT multi guess, it has to have written answers.

• Raising the driving age to 17 for a learner's plate and then only for a car up to 1300cc. And the driver must have had at least three driving lessons from a qualified driving instructor before they are allowed to actually drive the car.

• To get a restricted licence the driver must show proof of at least one defensive driving lessons from an approved training organisation over a minimum 12 months prior.

• If any traffic infringement occurs during that 12 months the driver starts from day one again.

• Full licence granted only after being assessed by a traffic officer sitting in the car during a test.

• Only on gaining a full licence, can the driver buy any car they want.

• Compulsory third party insurance for everyone.

Introduce the above and two things will happen. Boy racers will almost disappear and road deaths will be significantly reduced.

I'll tell you how sad it is that nothing ever changes with New Zealand's inability to look at the bigger picture.

I was listening to a certain radio talkback show and the host, who on occasion has prided himself on looking at the big picture, was banging on about the change to the turning left rule.

Talk about naval gazing and counting the amount of fluff in there.

Who cares about turning rules, they're small change compared to the overall standard of driving skill. What should have been being discussed, was the lost opportunity of improving driving standards for a whole new generation.