New Zealanders back special rules for tourist drivers
Most New Zealanders want special rules in place for overseas tourists planning on renting a car during a holiday.
A Herald-Digipoll survey said more than three quarters of the 750 respondents want tests for overseas drivers or a ban on firms renting out vehicles to travellers newly arrived after long flights.
The poll said just 20% thought it would be too complicated to implement these rules.
Nearly 34% want overseas drivers who drive on the right in their home countries to sit a practical and written test before being allowed to drive.
More than 15% want a ban on rentals to air travellers immediately arriving off flights of eight hours or more.
The survey was sparked by a series of road accidents involving tourists which included 11 fatal crashes in 2013.
Investigations concluded foreign drivers were at least partly to blame in all 11 collisions.
The Ministry of Transport said any special rules for visitors would likely violate a United Nations convention on road traffic which allows New Zealanders to drive on roads overseas without restrictions.
"We urge tourists and recent arrivals to take advantage of the good, free information that is available about New Zealand roads," a MOT spokesman said.
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Editor for TravelMole North America and Asia pacific regions. Ray is a highly experienced (15+ years) skilled journalist and editor predominantly in travel, hospitality and lifestyle working with a huge number of major market-leading brands. He has also cover in-depth news, interviews and features in general business, finance, tech and geopolitical issues for a select few major news outlets and publishers.
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