LTSA calls for attitude change towards young speedsters

Reeling from the deaths of four teenagers in a road crash last week, the Land Transport Safety Authority is pleading for society to toughen its attitude to speeding by inexperienced drivers.

Excessive speed had contributed to 12 of the 14 teenage deaths in road crashes this year, the LTSA said.

The latest deaths were those of the four teenage boys in Auckland shortly after midnight last Wednesday when the car they were in hit a traffic light pole after travelling at speeds believed to be up to 140km/h.

Land transport safety director David Wright said scores of young lives would continue to be lost in road crashes every year unless society's attitudes changed towards the dangers of inexperienced drivers and high speed.

"When New Zealanders hear about a drink-driving crash, we get angry and we condemn that behaviour," Mr Wright said.

"But when young people - often unlicensed or breaching their licence conditions - lose control and crash at high speed, too many of us will merely shrug our shoulders and say 'bad luck' or 'boys will be boys'.

"Until driving too fast and driving without the appropriate licence is treated as seriously as driving drunk, this tragic waste of young lives will continue," he said.

"We must spend more time and energy as parents and as a society teaching our young people to take driving seriously and making sure they are properly licensed before letting them behind the wheel.

"We must teach them about the dangers of speed and alcohol, and to accept responsibility for their own safety and the safety of their friends, family and other road users."

Last year 74 people aged between 15 and 19 died on the roads - more than half in speed-related crashes.

- NZPA