5. Hon PETER DUNNE (Leader—United Future) Link to this
to the Minister of Transport
Does she stand by her comment on 13 September 2007: “I would say to the member that he ought to test this House as to whether it wishes to raise the driving age of young New Zealanders. I think it is probably timely that this House was tested to see whether it would like to see the age raised. It is a question that this House could decide on.”?
Hon HARRY DUYNHOVEN (Minister for Transport Safety) Link to this
Yes. However, the experience of successive Ministers of Transport is that in the past, when they have tried to make improvements, they have often faced resistance when the time came for Parliament to support a change.
Has the Minister seen the poll reported in the New Zealand Herald a short time ago, that showed that 87 percent of New Zealanders favoured a change in the driving age, and do I take it from his original answer that he also does?
Hon HARRY DUYNHOVEN Link to this
Yes, I am aware of the poll and the considerable public opinion on the issue, but opinion is divided. Just as an example of this a previous Minister of Transport, the Hon Maurice Williamson, strongly favoured raising the driving age, as I did, but Paula Bennett was quoted in the newspaper the other day—another National member—saying no. So that is a very good example of where public opinion is divided.
Peter BrownIs the Minister aware that the school-leaving age has increased to 16 since the driving age was set at 15, and is it not reasonable to tag the driving age to 16; if he thinks it is reasonable, does he believe he has the confidence of his Labour Party colleagues?
Hon HARRY DUYNHOVEN Link to this
As the member well knows there are arguments for and against raising the driving age, particularly between those living in urban areas and those living in rural areas. There will be various announcements soon concerning young drivers, and I look forward to the support of Parliament when those announcements are made. That does not, however, preclude any member from putting the matter forward as a member’s bill, and I am sure the debate would be most interesting. Can I also say that 15-year-old drivers in the years 2004, 2005, and 2006 had two crashes per year where the 15-year-old driver was at fault and which caused fatalities. That puts the issue somewhat in perspective.
Paula BennettI seek leave to table the Sunday Star-Times article, which clearly states—
Madam SPEAKER