O'Rourke Denis: Oral Questions — Questions to MinistersText is incorporated into the Bound VolumeO'Rourke Denis: Oral Questions — Questions to Ministers[Sitting date: 11 February 2016. Volume:711;Page:8930. Text is incorporated into the Bound Volume.]11.DENIS O’ROURKE (NZ First) to the Associate Minister of Transport: Is he satisfied with the rate and seriousness of accidents involving overseas drivers in light of the work the Government is doing to target overseas drivers?Hon CRAIG FOSS (Associate Minister of Transport): I am never satisfied with the rate and seriousness of accidents that occur on our roads involving any driver whether they are from New Zealand or afar. We want everyone to be safe on our roads and that is why we are investing more in road safety measures increasing the numbers of signage in tourist areas and providing more information to visiting drivers to better educate them on New Zealand driving conditions. This complements the work that is being done by industry organisations such as the Rental Vehicle Association of New Zealand and the Tourism Industry Association. We will continue to invest in making our drivers more informed better prepared and able to drive safely on our roads.Denis O’Rourke: Does the Minister accept that some rental car operators are not making a genuine effort to ensure the competence of drivers whom they hire vehicles to; if so what will he do about it?Hon CRAIG FOSS: I do note that the Rental Vehicle Association of New Zealand has about 70 or 80 percent of the rental fleet as its members. There are some rental companies out there that are currently not members of the association and therefore are not part of the code of conduct it is trying to bring in to assist visiting drivers. So what am I doing about it? I am continually working with the Rental Vehicle Association of New Zealand so that it will enforce it amongst its members and continue to increase the numbers of those who are participating in the positive code of conduct. By and large it is working.Denis O’Rourke: What has he got to say about the recently observed practice of some rental car operators instructing overseas drivers to falsely complete questionnaires to confirm familiarity with New Zealand roads and traffic laws even after the driver has stated that they are not familiar with them?Hon CRAIG FOSS: Yes I saw that comment in the member’s press release and I suggest that that member with that information talk to the Rental Vehicle Association of New Zealand confront that rental vehicle company and tell it about the safety issues that the member is rightly concerned about.Denis O’Rourke: Will the Minister adopt my member’s bill to make rental car operators vicariously liable for accidents caused by drivers if it can be proved that they have not taken reasonable and practical steps to ensure the competence of the drivers and their familiarity with New Zealand traffic laws and roads; if not why not?Hon CRAIG FOSS: As recent court cases would have shown I expect and continue to expect that the drivers of vehicles who cause accidents are held responsible and accountable and are punished where necessary for their actions. I am not transferring that liability to some other organisation.Denis O’Rourke: Will the Minister adopt my member’s bill to also require rental car operators to hire only vehicles complying with the Australasian New Car Assessment Program’s 5-star safety rating including autonomous emergency braking a blind-spot monitoring system and a lane-support system to warn drivers if they stray from a lane; if not why not?Hon CRAIG FOSS: I am glad the member asked that question. The member’s bill and the member’s press release do not actually line up. The member’s press release says all drivers including New Zealanders would be subject to that; the member’s bill promotes something else. But what the member’s bill proposes would result in actually only the latest-model BMWs and European cars over $100000—whatever they are—to be allowed to be rented out in New Zealand and quite possibly would raise costs for renting vehicles for all New Zealanders and all tourists. So if the member wants to raise costs for all rentals in New Zealand—over a million rentals a year—and create a fleet of only the flashest latest BMWs that have the things that he prescribes then he can go for it.Denis O’Rourke: Is the Minister aware that some overseas driver’s licences can be purchased without a robust driving test? What will he do to invalidate those licences for use in New Zealand?Hon CRAIG FOSS: If a driver’s licence that is presented to an operator or an authority in New Zealand is found to be fraudulent or not valid then the rental company can take that—Denis O’Rourke: I raise a point of order Mr Speaker. The Minister must have misunderstood the question—Mr SPEAKER: I think that is a fair call. I will invite the member to ask the question again.Denis O’Rourke: Is the Minister aware that some overseas driver’s licences can be purchased without a robust driving test? What will he do to invalidate those licences for use in New Zealand?Hon CRAIG FOSS: I have heard reports along those lines particularly last year. I note the visiting drivers issue is ongoing at this time of the season. In respect of issues around accusations of driver’s licences being purchased and used potentially fraudulently in New Zealand first of all the rental companies have a code of conduct where they compare and check licences that are approved in New Zealand. There must be an English version of those licences. So there is not one silver bullet in this space; there are a whole lot of initiatives in this visiting drivers’ space. I appreciate and acknowledge the good intent of the member’s bill but events have by and large bypassed that bill.