Road crashes involving overseas license holders are traumatic for everyone involved and can evoke a strong community response.
For context, over the 2015 to 2019 period, there were an average of 310 fatal road crashes per year in New Zealand, with an average of 21 of these involving an overseas driver. Note that this involvement in the crash did not mean the overseas drivers were at fault.
In 2014, TIA participated in the successful Visiting Drivers project, led by the New Zealand Transport Agency (NZTA). This project delivered a range of actions (including education through to road infrastructure improvements) aimed at keeping overseas drivers and their host communities safe. Since then, TIA has established and oversees the DriveSafe website, a resource for international drivers planning New Zealand driving holidays, and with Rental Vehicle Association supports implementation of the Rental Operators Code of practice for Visiting Drivers.
