Guy Nathan: Land Transport Amendment Bill (No 4) — First Reading 
Guy Nathan: Land Transport Amendment Bill (No 4) — First Reading 
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NATHAN GUY (National) 
: 
 I wish to make a contribution on the first reading of the Land Transport Amendment Bill (No 4). This is important legislation and we have heard from the Minister tonight that it is all about people driving under the influence of drugs. Police officers will be able to carry out an impairment test—a practical test—and I heard from a member on the other side of the House although I could not get it out of the Minister today that it is something along the lines of hopping on one foot on the side of the road. So when the bill gets to the select committee we will be interested to see some of the practicalities around it. 
We have heard tonight as we have traversed around the House about some of the very bad statistics we have and about the fatalities that have occurred throughout New Zealand on our major highways and on some of our rural and provincial roads as well. We are never quite sure whether those people involved are under the influence of alcohol drugs— 
Dianne Yates 
: Or both. 
NATHAN GUY 
: —or both. Possibly they could be fatigued from long hours of driving or they could be suffering from sleep deprivation. A whole range of issues is involved. 
I think it is important to think about an area up the coast from here—the Kapiti coast—where Transit has recently put some barriers down the side of the road not the centre of the road to block some culverts and a drain. When we think about the importance of median barriers for saving lives we should also think about Centennial Highway or “Killer Highway” as it is called. The Government is currently investing in the extension of the median barrier up there which I fully endorse but I want to talk a little bit about how long it has taken the Government to do that and about some of the terrible statistics on that “Killer Highway”. Unfortunately 40 lives have been taken in a 20-year period and 120 serious injuries have occurred on that portion of Centennial Highway. Just recently another very bad incident occurred by the Fishermans Table Restaurant and I am sure that while the contractors are there putting in the median barrier the Government should be considering extending it along the centre of the road to Mackays Crossing. The statistics that I got from Transit showed that the median barrier has proved its worth over time. A study done from 1999 to 2003 showed that a median barrier on this section of road would save $40 million. 
Somewhere in the bill it is mentioned that a fatality or loss of a human life in terms of the social cost to the country was about $3 million—now $3.2 million. It is unfortunate that we have to put a cost on a human life but that is the cost of the loss to the country. We need to do our utmost with this bill to ensure not only that motorists who are under the influence of drugs are captured fined and dealt to but also that the practicalities are taken into account. It will be very important for the select committee to sort out the practicalities of dealing with say someone who is under the influence of a drug like Codral or some other drug like Prozac which was mentioned earlier tonight. 
Gerry Brownlee 
: What does the local member think about that median structure? 
NATHAN GUY 
: I am not sure what the member is doing actually. I do not think there is an awful lot of activity going on in Mana or Otaki with the local member. That is why I am champing at the bit to challenge the Government given that it is sitting on a huge surplus to extend the median barrier along this dangerous piece of road while the contractors are there by a couple of extra kilometres through to Mackays Crossing. That seems to me to be paramount. 
I want also to talk about registration which is another very important part of the bill. We have heard tonight and we already knew that it is very easy to find out the number plate of a vehicle and the address of the person in whose name the vehicle is registered. It might be that a driver has made a wrong turn and cut a person off and as a result there could be a period of road rage. It is very easy for anyone to get information through the register of motor vehicles. This provision will tidy that up and that is a good step. Another problem is that the owners of expensive vehicles are often worried that people on the public highway could note their number plates track where they live and therefore come and steal their vehicles—do some form of car conversion. There are also safety issues concerning female drivers to take into account. So the purpose of the register of motor vehicles will enforce the law. 
I guess all of us—well most of us no doubt—in the House have been caught on a speed camera after which one has the discussion around the table at home as to who was driving the vehicle on that day and then requests the photo and the time. Then someone has to put a hand up as to who was driving on the day. Another mechanism in the bill is to allow for the collection of charges. We know there are millions of dollars worth of unpaid fines currently which this Government is unable to get people to pay so I am sure that issue will come out in the select committee as well. 
Part of the legislation will also empower the Minister of Transport to release names if there is a fault in any vehicle through manufacturing. I think that is a good thing. Any person can still seek information but it will be tougher to do that than it is currently. 
There is also a new category for someone carrying on the back of a vehicle a bike or a dog box that obscures the current number plate. The person will be able to get a supplementary number plate. 
In conclusion I say that National will support this bill to go to the select committee. We believe that it is fundamental that we move to reduce a lot of the fatalities and serious crash accidents on our highways and provincial and rural roads. Although a lot of those occur because of the use of alcohol a whole lot of others occur unfortunately through the taking of drugs. I urge the select committee to think about the practicalities of that to ensure that we get this legislation correct. National supports this very important legislation to go through the House this evening. 
Bill read a first time.  
Bill referred to the Transport and Industrial Relations Committee.