Demerit points instead of fines, tighter rules for child restraints in cars and more speed cameras are on the cards as the Government looks at a swathe of measures to improve road safety.
Transport Minister Steven Joyce this morning released the Safer Journeys Action Plan 2011-12 at Parliament.
He said the plan continued the approach set out in the Government's Safer Journeys strategy.
"This is an across the board approach to road safety which means we're looking at all aspects of the roading system -- road users, roads, vehicles and speed."
Last year 375 people died on New Zealand roads. While that was one of the lowest annual tolls on record, New Zealand's was high compared to other countries. Mr Joyce said if New Zealand had the same road death rate as Australia the toll would be 297 and compared to United Kingdom rates it would be 166.
Under the plan the Government would look into issuing demerit points rather than fines. Mr Joyce thought that would have a greater impact on high-risk drivers like boy racers, where there was a problem with fines accumulating to the point they could not be paid.
"If we can get to a position where the two things they covet most, which is their licence and their vehicles, are at risk then I think that will improve behaviour of a group of high risk drivers that are causing a lot of the carnage on our roads."
More speed cameras were also being looked at but Mr Joyce was not concerned about a public backlash.
"I don't think they will see it as revenue gathering, it's a common complaint, but if they look at it as the potential to free up resources for police to focus on high risk drivers I think they will see that as a plus."
Law changes were possible to ensure children were safely restrained in vehicles. The plan said regulatory interventions and education would be looked at.
Mr Joyce said his preference was to encourage rather than legislate.
Changes may lead to the age at which children have to sit in a booster seat being raised.
"We are concerned about the right child restraint at the right age."
Another area the Government would investigate was time limits for learner and restricted licences.
Some people remained on one stage for years which created problems such as driving outside of limits for their level.
"It calls into question the whole progress through the system that the graduated licence system is trying to encourage... It's quite possible we are going to look seriously at limits of how long you can be on those stages."
Other measures in the plan included:
* Strengthening motorcycle licence testing.
* Researching the impact of drivers under the influence of drugs and ways to combat drug-impaired drivers.
* Further safety improvements on high risk roads and risk ratings for roads.
* Different speed limits to meet the danger level of the road -- for example councils have already done that in built up areas.
The plan also seeks to implement changes passed by Parliament including a tougher restricted licence test, increased minimum driving age and a zero blood alcohol limit for youth, as well as alcohol interlocks and a zero blood alcohol limit for repeat drink drivers.
The Automobile Association ranked the plan eight out of 10. Spokesman Mike Noon said measures to reduce speed needed to be balanced against realistic needs of motorists and the nature of the road.
"Developing a nationally consistent approach to safe speeds will be challenging and needs to be well thought through to get buy in from users."
Today's announcement was made at the global Decade of Action for Road Safety launch, a United Nations road safety campaign.
About 1.3 million people die in the world each year because of road crashes -- more than from malaria -- and the toll is projected to reach nearly 2 million by 2020.
