Compulsory car insurance being considered - minister
12:00PM Tuesday May 22, 2007
Compulsory insurance is being considered as a way of cracking down on boy racers, Transport Safety Minister Harry Duynhoven said today.
The Government has come under pressure from a mayoral task force to tighten liquor laws and laws around the licensing, purchasing and financing of "high performance cars" for drivers aged under 20.
The taskforce's 20 mayors called for a permanent ban on alcohol in all unlicensed public places and a "comprehensive review" of licensing and car purchasing laws following the deaths of young people in Christchurch and Mount Maunganui.
But Mr Duynhoven said today requiring compulsory third-party insurance for all drivers was more likely to have an impact on the behaviour of so-called boyracers.
He said: "That very soon changes behaviour because people realise they are not in a position to drive if they have a lot of speeding tickets, a lot of vehicle offences or a vehicle which is modified with a very high premium because if they misbehave their premiums then go through the roof."
Mr Duynhoven said research suggested raising the driving age would not make a difference, as it was a driver's experience, rather than their age which appeared the main factor in their safety record.
More
here. .
