28 September 2013
Earlier this month the New Zealand Transport Authority (NZTA) issued a media release announcing the Bay of Plenty youth pass rate for the class one (car) theory test has reached 65 percent this year. In November 2009, when the tests were introduced here, the pass rate was 50 percent.
The media release also stated the number of fatal and serious injury crashes involving teenage drivers had dropped from 478 nationwide in 2008 to 257 in 2012.
Both announcements are good news. But road crashes are still the single biggest killer of Kiwi teenagers, and the Eastern Bay district has a particularly poor record. It ranks among the worst regions in New Zealand for crashes involving young drivers (those aged under 25). According to the latest Communities at Risk register, the Kawerau and Ōpōtiki districts are the worst and fourth-worst regions respectively, and Whakatāne is 16th.
The Eastern Bay Road Safety Programme aims to change this, and we are constantly striving for fresh ways to deliver key road safety messages to the region’s youth. With that in mind, we’ve launched an Eastern Bay Road Safety Facebook page featuring news, advice and events aimed at young drivers. We’re also running the Share the Road competition until October 30, with young people encouraged to create short video clips showcasing their ideas around road safety. Visit our Facebook page or email sharetheroad@whakatane.govt.nz for more information or to enter.
Other initiatives include delivering key road safety messages to schools around the region and continued support of the Students Against Driving Drunk programme delivered in secondary schools. Also on the calendar over the coming months is a summer holiday driving promotion targeting young drivers.
The Eastern Bay Road Safety Programme’s goal is to better inform young drivers about road dangers, resulting in a reduced risk of serious and fatal crashes involving young drivers on Eastern Bay roads. We all need to work together to achieve this.
NZTA is also working to change youth driver crash statistics. It launched a new Safe Teen Driver campaign in August this year, reminding parents that restricted drivers need support and practical information to help them deal with risks on the road.
For more information about this campaign, please visit safeteendriver.co.nz.