12 Feb 2015

AA says no to tourist driving test

1:10 pm on 12 February 2015

The Automobile Association has rejected calls for tourists to sit a driving test before they can drive in New Zealand.

MPs on parliament's Transport and Industrial Relations select committee are considering a petition with more than 30,000 signatures asking for tighter restrictions for visiting drivers.

The petition was organised by two young brothers whose father was killed when his motorcycle and a car driven by student who had just arrived from China, collided.

But speaking at the select committee, AA national manager for policy Simon Douglas told MPs that visiting drivers are not ove-represented at a national level in road accidents.

"AA does not believe that a practical test at the border for visitors is pragamatic or practical. We just don't believe it will be able to be implemented or make a difference," he said.

Instead Simon Douglas said the Government should prioritise the roll-out in tourist areas of rubber strips, wire-rope barriers, and arrows reminding drivers to keep left.

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