12 November 2002: Though New Zealand road deaths are significantly down on 1991 when they peaked at 650 there were still 450 fatalities last year despite all the shock-horror ad campaigns, more gatsos, more traffic police, more lasers.

That said, the government is determined to drive the toll down to 400 by 2004 and just 300 by 2010. To this end, it is accelerating spending on road safety by an impressive $22 million over the next year. Much of on more of the same tactics, according to the The Nelson Mail.

A new tactic which makes quite a bit of sense (Mr Brennan please copy) sees the introduction of a trial scheme for learner drivers, which enables them to avoid sitting a practical test.

Motorists choosing the alternative route to a restricted licence need to log up a certain number of driving hours, under a parent or other informal teacher, and follow up with a set minimum number of lessons from a qualified professional instructor. Once assessed as competent at various aspects of driving, and after passing the standard theory tests, the learners receive their restricted licence.

Practice is seen as every bit as important as theory when it comes to driving, and at first glance it may seem odd to scrap practical testing as part of a road safety package. However, provided the criteria for approving driving instructors is rigorous the two-year trial, set to be tested in three centres from next year, may prove to have merit.

It is, says the Nelson Mail 'one way to ensure young drivers are appropriately supervised for the first 50 hours of their driving careers - the time they are most likely to be involved in crashes'.