Teach safety to the young: AA

The AA is calling for more money to be invested in road safety education, particularly among schoolchildren.

At the Traffic Institute conference, AA motoring affairs general manager Mike Noon lamented a recent cut in funding for safety campaigns and called for revenue from traffic fines to be spent in that area.

Young men were seven times more likely to be involved in a crash than an average driver, and in the first six months of driving solo, young women were six times more likely.

Young drivers needed more education, including compulsory attitudinal training, to help them understand the risks and responsibilities of driving on our roads, Mr Noon said.

"It is important to educate children when they are first at school, so they learn about road safety early and start to develop life-long skills to keep them safe."

Funding had also been cut for safety campaigns aimed at older drivers, who needed ongoing education.

"New Zealand can easily fund the vital programmes," Mr Noon said. Using fines money for road safety was supported by 91 per cent of AA members.

- NZPA