High-risk drivers are causing the majority of fatal accidents on Bay of Plenty roads.
A report released today by Minister of Transport Steven Joyce shows high-risk drivers were responsible for 54 fatal car crashes in the region between 2005 and 2009.
Dylan Hogg, 34, was driving this vehicle when he crashed, dying in the incident. He was classed as a high-risk driver owing to drink driving convictions he had. Read more about his crash here.
It defines high-risk drivers as ‘unlicensed and disqualified drivers', those with previous speed and alcohol offences, or those who engage in high-risk behaviour, such as driving with a high blood alcohol content, evading enforcement or illegal street racing at the time of the crash.
Of the 54 high-risk drivers involved in fatal car crashes in the Bay of Plenty, 24 were involved in crashes in urban areas, 21 on state highways, and nine on other open roads.
Across New Zealand, 642 people were killed between 2005 and 2009 in crashes where high-risk drivers were at fault.
Steven says the information shows there is a segment of drivers whose high-risk actions cause a significant number of road deaths and injuries.
'The government is taking steps to crack down on these drivers to ensure their reckless actions don't put the rest of us at risk.”
The minister has also released an addendum to the report which shows that when at-fault young drivers who are not already classified as high-risk, are added to high-risk drivers, together they comprise 53 per cent of at-fault drivers in fatal crashes and 48 percent of at-fault drivers in fatal and serious injury crashes.
'These two groups together cause about half of the deaths and serious injuries on our roads.”
Steven says the figures in the report show that by targeting these two groups, the number of road deaths and injuries on the roads should decrease.
The Ministry of Transport is also investigating the potential for vehicle power restrictions for young drivers.
In addition, last year the government improved police powers to tackle illegal street racing and the anti-social use of vehicles.
1 comment
unlicenced drivers
Posted on 24-01-2011 14:49 | By The author of this comment has been removed.
my husband has spent 4 and a half months recovering 4 months on crutches he was the motoguzzi moterbike hit at omokaroa no licence no insurence a court order payout of 30 dollars a week our bussiness was wound up for 4 months our morgage had to be put on hold for 3 months to feed our family inever got to see my gramma because i was nurseing my husband and she died the dog died and my children and neighbors had to dig the dogs grave someone had to take us to the vet i donnot drive i have no night vision and minor epilepsy- i know how 2 drive i choose not to put others at risk1 minute daryl is doing 100 km next he is swinging the bike into their bonnet to avoid killing them- to fly free of the wreckage he has had a dream about this accident for 40 years his family helped build that road -omokaroa turnoff he spent his teens rideing and driving that road i cannot addup how muchthis accident has cost our family
Leave a Comment
You must be logged in to make a comment.