Young driver crashes increase despite introduction of tougher restricted licence test

Monday, 17 June 2019

Barry Stollery is still recovering from a motorcycle crash which shattered his pelvis and almost killed him.

The 66-year-old was riding in Tauranga almost two years ago when he was collected by a 17-year-old driver who failed to give way at a roundabout.

Stollery slammed into the motorbike's petrol tank, flipped over its handle bars and ended up face down on the ground.

He suffered a severe head injury, broken arm and horrific pelvis injuries, and cannot remember the event.

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'My first recollection was three days after the crash, waking up and seeing all these worried people. I actually died twice in hospital and needed to be resuscitated.'

​Stollery's crash, a hit-and-run, was one of 564 serious injury crashes caused by young drivers in 2017, according to the latest Ministry of Transport figures.

That's more than the 440 recorded in 2012, the same year a tougher restricted licence test was introduced to improve young driver safety.

The crashes represented 25 per cent of all serious injury crashes in 2012, and 24 per cent in 2017 - a slight decrease.

But road deaths caused by young drivers have increased, from 68 in 2012 (22 per cent of all road deaths) to 87 in 2017 (23 per cent).

Stollery spent three weeks in Tauranga Hospital following his crash, including three days in intensive care.

He had multiple surgeries to repair his pelvis, and a metal plate and screws permanently inserted.

His genital area remains damaged and not fully-functional, and he is still taking painkillers and receiving physiotherapy on his lower body.

Stollery doubts much could have been done to prevent the incident, but wants to see a more effective campaign on motorcycle awareness.

'I'm aware at that age we don't have consequence decision-making processes. Obviously, [the driver] thought he had time to get through the roundabout.'

Automobile Association Driving School general manager Roger Venn said crash rates among young people reflected the lack of specialised training they received, and laid some of the blame on parents.

'We have a huge problem in New Zealand in terms of our attitude towards what safe driving is, and there is a 'laissez-faire' attitude among a lot of parents.'

He also called on parents who let their children drive old, cheap cars, while they drove safer, more modern cars so they did not 'get scratched', to change their mindset.

'Which car would you rather they crashed in?'

Road safety charity Brake called for a 'hazard perception' test to be introduced alongside the restricted licence test, and for the learner licence period to be extended from six months to a year.

It also called for mandatory professional tuition for drivers on their learner and restricted licence.

Ministry of Transport mobility and safety manager Brent Johnston said the impacts of the new restricted licence test were currently being examined as part of an evaluation of the Graduated Driver Licensing System (GDLS) .

The findings were expected to be made public in July.

Several other initiatives were also being undertaken by the Government to support young drivers through the licensing system, Johnston said.

Police said the driver who caused the crash was charged with careless driving causing injury, and failing to stop or assist the victim.