Areas for continued focus and emerging issues

How can we increase the level of restraint use?

Bring our child restraint laws in line with international best practice
 
New Zealand has one of the highest child road fatality rates in the OECD. Child deaths and serious injuries could be reduced by bringing our laws in line with international best practice. This could mean requiring children to use appropriate child restraints until they are a certain height or age. 

Additional possible initiatives are to:
• Ensure the correct use of child restraints through education
• Improve rear seatbelt use in regions below the national average
• Improve wearing rates for commercial drivers

How can we reduce the impact of high risk drivers?

Initiatives proposed for reducing alcohol/drug impaired driving, speeding, and improving the safety of young drivers will also help reduce the impact of high risk drivers.

Recently introduced legislation will also give Police, the courts and local authorities greater powers to tackle illegal street racers.

How can we improve road safety for older New Zealanders?

After young people, older road users have a higher rate of road trauma than other age groups. Their road fatality rate is around 15 deaths per 100,000 population. This compares with the rate of 10 deaths per 100,000 for the entire population.

Possible initiatives are to:
• Target road and roadside improvements to cater for older New Zealanders
• Encourage the use of safer vehicles by older road users
• Expand road safety education for older New Zealanders

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