Transporting New Zealand’s Endowment Committee is sending five young drivers to Street Smart Driver Education Courses.
Thank you and congratulations to the TNZ members who made successful applications on behalf of young drivers: Dannevirke Carriers, Midlands Rural Transport, Mercury Bay Hi-Ab Services, J Swap Contractors and Mills-Tui.
Due to the high level of interest, the Committee intends to run a second round of applications later in the year.
The Gen Z paradox: Driving less, crashing more
Transporting New Zealand member AutoSense is a Street Smart sponsor. AutoSense CEO Charles Dawson underscores the importance of education for young drivers in New Zealand.
“We’re backing this programme because it aligns with our mission at AutoSense to create safer journeys for all road users, including Gen Z,” he says.
Dawson says Gen Z is driving less but is crashing more.
“Globally, Gen Z’s licence numbers are down — yet their crash stats keep climbing. Ride-sharing, environmental concerns, urban living and financial barriers are causing young drivers to delay getting their driving licence. In the US, licence holding among 16-year-olds dropped from around 46 percent in 1983 to just 25 percent in 2022. New Zealand youth make up only 13 percent of licence holders, yet account for 30 percent of serious injury crashes and more than 25 percent of road fatalities in 2022.”
He adds that drivers under the age of 25 were found primarily responsible for over 2,800 crashes on New Zealand roads in 2023 alone, claiming the lives of 75 people and injuring over 2,255, including 498 serious injuries.
“Street Smart fills a critical gap in New Zealand, especially when you look at the data on Gen Z drivers. Structured, hands-on, experiential training is exactly what’s needed to ensure our youngest drivers are equipped to keep themselves – and others – safe on the road.”
You can read more about Street Smart and how our associate member AutoSense supports the programme here.
