Wednesday, 3 August 2005

Adams: 15 ok for driving; enforcement of rules is key

Keep the driving age at 15, but train young drivers properly and enforce strict conditions, United Future's youth spokesman and former national rally champion Paul Adams said today.

"Basically if they're caught more than 20kmh over the speed limit, they should lose their licence for 12 months; if they have more than a zero alcohol level, they lose it for two years and as my colleague, Larry Baldock, advocated yesterday, if they're carrying passengers on a restricted licence, they lose it for 12 months," Mr Adams said.

"Young drivers need to learn the seriousness of the responsibility of driving on the road. They have a lethal weapon in their hands," he said.

Mr Adams said 15 was not too young given that there are 12-year-olds who are driving fully-fledged racing cars.

"The age is not the problem. It is the training, the boundaries and the enforcement that all need to be in place," he said.

"Why should perfectly responsible teens pay the price for the actions of a few?"

Mr Adams said peer pressure, thought to be a factor in some accidents,was less influential at 15 or 16 than 17 onwards.

ENDS

© Scoop Media