Show kids the horrors of the road, says teen

In nearly 18 months of driving, West Auckland teen Nigel Fernando has not even a parking fine in his name.

But the 16-year-old admits to breaking the speed limit. "Hardly ever, and nothing crazy. Being honest here."

It's no different to what an older driver would do, he said.

The St Peters College student has been driving for a year and five months now. Next month, he receives his full licence when he completes his course in defensive driving.

Learning to drive was simply a need, he said. With home in Henderson, school in Epsom, soccer and cricket practice all over Auckland, and work in the Westgate mall in Massey, relying on his parents was simply not an option.

Public transport was also ruled out because it cannot always get him there on time.

Nigel's parents trust him behind the wheel. "They are pretty strict about me breaking the rules and stuff. But the whole point of me having my licence is to help me get around. It saves them time, it saves me time," he said.

Nigel thinks raising the driving age will not prevent the horror stories from repeating. "If you change the limit to 18, you're gonna hear stories about 18-year-olds doing stupid things rather than 16-year-olds. Changing the age limit's gonna do nothing."

Young drivers were not all hoons.

"People shouldn't stereotype young drivers as bad drivers. They're just new at it and haven't got the experience.

"Most drivers learn by their mistakes, and even those who don't meet with accidents learn by experience."

Harsher penalties and more rigorous driving tests would help curb the problem, he said. But Nigel also supports campaigns where wrecked vehicles are brought into schools for students to witness first-hand the dangers of reckless driving.

"For some, just hearing the stories is not enough. They need to see the results for themselves."