Our response
Last updated on
3/03/2010 11:00 a.m.
We carefully considered issues raised during public consultation and made a number of changes to the Safer Journeys proposals to reflect public opinion.
High risk drivers (repeat offenders, disqualified and unlicensed drivers, high end offenders and illegal street racers) were presented as an area of continued focus in the discussion document. However, public concern about high risk drivers came through strongly in the consultation feedback. For this reason high risk drivers are an area of medium concern in Safer Journeys.
Not all of the issues that received strong support during consultation are backed by evidence. Compulsory third party vehicle insurance was one initiative that received a lot of support, but research has shown it would be unlikely to significantly improve road safety. This is partly because the rate of vehicle insurance among New Zealanders is already very high. Further evaluation of compulsory third party vehicle insurance will be undertaken. However, we would have to be confident that the benefits of such an approach would exceed the costs before introducing it.
In response to the submissions we developed three themes that help explain the Safe System from the individual’s point of view:
- Helping us to get it right and avoid crashes
This recognises that alert, skilled, unimpaired drivers should expect to reach their destination without mishap every time. Consideration needs to be given over the life of the strategy to how we can encourage safe behaviour and decisions.
- Providing protection to people when things go wrong
This recognises human error and human vulnerability and seeks to reduce the consequences of crashes when they do happen.
- Enforcing the limits of the safe system
This recognises that safe limits need to be imposed (eg on speed, vehicle standards, effect of alcohol and drugs) because no amount of design, vehicle quality and good driving can cope with random, dangerous driving.