A number of recent road accidents in New Zealand has opened a debate about whether overseas tourists should be better educated before being allowed on roads in that country.
While fewer than 2% per cent of fatal crashes across New Zealand involved foreign drivers, in some popular tourist areas such as Queenstown that figure rises to around 25%.
In incidents over the Queen’s Birthday weekend in New Zealand, a campervan driven by an American man crossed the centreline and killed a woman in an oncoming vehicle, while three people died in a different incident when a vehicle driven by a Dutch national allegedly ran a stop sign.
Tourists who use campervans are generally given extensive information on the New Zealand road rules in several languages, before and during their trip, but road safety campaigner Clive Matthew-Wilson says foreign travellers should be banned from renting vehicles until they pass an online driving test.
“It’s not just a question of putting some questions and answers on a website and hoping people look there,” he said. “The Government needs to implement an interactive test that must be passed before a vehicle can be legally rented to a foreign driver.”
However, Prime Minister John Key, does not believe laws need to be tightened around tourists driving in New Zealand.
“Increasingly, the rental car companies and also some airlines are playing proactive role in trying to improve driver education and I think there will be a couple of groups established to ensure we’re doing everything we can,” he said. “We do need to recognise that some of our roads are quite difficult terrain for people who may be inexperienced drivers.”
He quoted the example of Lindis Pass in the middle of winter as being tough terrain for any driver, let alone someone who might not be experienced driving in those conditions.
Of course, the debate is equally valid in Australia, where there are always large numbers of overseas travellers driving rental vehicles in challenging road conditions in the Outback.
Just a few weeks ago, a German teenager lost control of her vehicle and rolled on the Stuart Highway near Glendambo in South Australia’s outback. Her male passenger was killed and the girl is now facing a number of driving charges.
With the situation talked about in NZ I am probably asking a silly question.
Not being a overseas traveller, never have been and more than likely never will be so don’t know. Do Aussies have to undergo some sort of test to drive overseas? If so then I think it only right our OS visitors do the same here. Sort of like, when in Rome do as the Romans do. Howver if we don’t I spose I would say, why should they? IMO.
More signs like on the Great Ocean Road, we had a German tourist killed a few months ago, left a lookout and traveled on the wrong site of the road for some distance, hit a 4×4 & caravan, lucky not more where killed. Also educate them better.
I have driven extensively all over the world and have never been asked to sit a test as mentioned above. This sort of accident happens all over the world all the time, the majority of Brits travelling to Europe for example will have an accident within 10km of leaving the ferry. I feel it would have negative effect on tourism and maybe be seen by some as arrogant.
I have driven cars overseas and had no test.
had no accidents
just try to concentrate when driving and not rubber necking etc
not sure really about tests.
I have driven OS and realize in doing so you have to drive to there rules. What would be better is for the rental Companies to make sure that the OS driver is given a full briefing on his or her responsibilities when driving is our country Having said this a note in the car saying keep the white line on you right would also be handy for those that come from countries that drive on the right side of the road. They had a sign like this in the rental car we hired in LA SAYING KEEP THE LINE ON YOUR LEFT. maybe this would help??? David