5 Jun 2011

Teen drivers targeted

11:48 am on 5 June 2011

The Transport Agency has launched a new campaign to improve the safety record of teenage drivers.

Road smashes are the single biggest killer of 15 to 19-year-olds. Radio New Zealand's transport reporter says New Zealand's teen crash rates are among the worst in the developed world.

The campaign was in part developed by a psychologist. It will seek to raise awareness of risks faced by teen drivers and encourages parents to stay involved after their child passes the restricted driving test.

The agency says parents and teenagers will have access to resources on a website, safeteendriver.co.nz.

It says they can use these resources during the learner driver stage, or during the restricted stage, to highlight the potential dangers of solo driving.