Drinking age / driving accident statistics

[Swoop]

There is some very compelling evidence regarding the lowering of the drinking age Vs driving accident statistics.

http://www.nzherald.co.nz/section/st...ectID=10361708

Females have a very high increase!

Scary stuff. But will the government raise the age back up to 20 and risk losing out on all the extra $$$ generated?

[myvice]

Read a report a while ago that said that using a mobile phone in a car was as bad as driving while under the influence.
Now assuming our fearless leaders can read, and assuming they have read this report, hidden as it was in a national news paper, we can safely surmise that they will use every means at there disposal to launch an investigation into the monetary impact of youth drink driving and how to give themselves another 10% wage rise backdated 6 months ago.
Then they will do nothing for two years until its election time and it’s a nice hot topic.
They would look into using a cell phone in cars but as they all do this it’s not in there best interests.
What, where you expecting leadership?

[digsaw]

just more of the same bullshit yar get what you vote for

[gamgee]

i think it's bullshit, fuck the media machine
what did they think would happen to the drink driving incidents in the 18-20 bracket when they lowered the legal drinking age? that it would stay the same? get real! what they should be more concerned about is that the shock tactic style advertising is not having the desired impact on females, who it seems, rather than watching, will turn away and miss the carnage and final message.
I watched the news tonight for the first time in weeks, and it's just unbearable the utter stupidity with which some of the reports and research statistics are presented, just frustrating that shit like this is put on tv

[Sniper]

Hahahaha, females can't drive

[TwoSeven]

Scary stuff. But will the government raise the age back up to 20 and risk losing out on all the extra $$$ generated?

Yeah, like 15-18 year olds pay their fines on time

Put the age of driving up to at least 18 and alchohol to 20 or 21 and actually teach people how to drive properly would be a start

Printing a license on the back of the skippy cornflake packet and giving it to a 15 year old is really no a good idea.

[Str8 Jacket]

Scary stuff. But will the government raise the age back up to 20 and risk losing out on all the extra $$$ generated?

I wonder if they may save $$ as there will be less $$ spent on resources, in the long run??..

[gamgee]

Yeah, like 15-18 year olds pay their fines on time

Put the age of driving up to at least 18 and alchohol to 20 or 21 and actually teach people how to drive properly would be a start

Printing a license on the back of the skippy cornflake packet and giving it to a 15 year old is really no a good idea.

lets pretend you're 15 again, would your opinion be the same?

[Str8 Jacket]

lets pretend you're 15 again, would your opinion be the same?

Yeah thats the thing, everyone remembers what they were like, thats why the age should be raised.
Though I was just having this discussion with a mate earlier today. Maybe if instead of just motorcyclists having higher ACC levies that people under the age of 20 and older than say 80 should also have to pay extra levies, when they pay for their licences to stop them from registering the vehicle to someone older/younger.... I wonder if that dis-incentive will work? Though while alcohol is readily available to these "kids" then that aone wouldnt work.

[Cookie]

There is some very compelling evidence regarding the lowering of the drinking age Vs driving accident statistics.

http://www.nzherald.co.nz/section/st...ectID=10361708

Females have a very high increase!

Scary stuff. But will the government raise the age back up to 20 and risk losing out on all the extra $$$ generated?

Females *on average* are more affected by alcohol than males (drinking the same quantity) - maybe that explains some of it. Same as their logic is BS. They can't help it. It's just they way they are. :-P

Good question about whether the gumbiment will have the guts to face up to the loss of revenue - particulary when they need all the money they can find to finance Tarquin and Beatrice through their Fine Arts degrees (not to mention the pressure from the alcohol industry and it's money).

By the time the private members bill comes up, I think there is a good chance MPs will be keen to be associated with something "sensible". God knows this could be their one and only chance this term.

[myvice]

Maybe if instead of just motorcyclists having higher ACC levies that people under the age of 20 and older than say 80 should also have to pay extra levies, when they pay for their licences to stop them from registering the vehicle to someone older/younger.... I wonder if that dis-incentive will work? .

What a bloody good idea, why the hell arnt they doing that?

[Clockwork]

The stats I saw presented on the news shows no conclusive link between the lowering of the drinking age and the road accident statistics. We just have some Pollie with an issue to push saying it's so and the media are just repeating it without any critical analysis.

Was any evidence offered that the increase in accidents was directly attributable to drink, because I didn't see any. It may simply be more drivers in high performace cars...... "boy racer culture", maybe increased cell phone use. Notice also that the rates of accidents increased in the 15-17 age group too.

[Lou Girardin]

Once again, it's not New Zealand research. Anecdotal evidence does seem to show a link here. And I do think 18 is too young to buy alcohol, but when are we going to stand on our own two feet and identify our own problems?

[In The Breeze]

Maybe if instead of just motorcyclists having higher ACC levies that people under the age of 20 and older than say 80 should also have to pay extra levies, when they pay for their licences to stop them from registering the vehicle to someone older/younger.... I wonder if that dis-incentive will work? Though while alcohol is readily available to these "kids" then that alone wouldnt work.

Excellent idea, that could work! Yeah I do remember thinking I could handle anything at that age,fark knows I was wrong. Raise the age of drinking and implement your ideas

[Clockwork]

Once again, it's not New Zealand research. Anecdotal evidence does seem to show a link here. And I do think 18 is too young to buy alcohol, but when are we going to stand on our own two feet and identify our own problems?

Can't agree with you here, Lou. How do you tell an 18 year old that for all practical purposes you're an adult...... "you can vote, get conscripted, be treated as an adult by the legal system but you can't buy alcohol!!"