Driver’s licence ‘a life-changer’
For Jennifer Taofia, getting her driver’s licence was life-changing.
Without a driver’s licence, young people aged 18 to 24 are more likely to be unemployed and end up in the court system.
That’s according to a 2016 report sponsored by ACC and the New Zealand Transport Agency that looked at the impact having a driver’s licence.
The first in her family to own a car, 21-year-old Taofia now does the grocery shopping for her Lower Hutt family.
Hutt City Council initiative YOUth INSPIRE found her a job but to get to work she had to catch two buses and walk home late at night from a bus stop.
With help from the organisation she completed a driving course, got her licence and was able to save enough to buy a of small car for herself.
Inspired by her success, her three brothers obtained their learner licence through YOUth INSPIRE, which also found them employment.
The report found 70 per cent of jobs require a licence and just 9 per cent of beneficiaries aged between 18 and 24 held a full licence.
Ali Black, who runs YOUth INSPIRE, has worked with 700 young people. Only one had a full driver’s licence, 9 per cent had their restricted licence and 25 per cent their learners’ licence.
There were numerous reasons why young people did not have a driver’s licence but a lack of money and family resources were the most common, she said.
The report said unlicensed young drivers were a significant safety issue but the issue of employment was also a concern.
‘‘A driver’s licence is a huge asset for job-seekers, while not having one can be a gateway to benefit dependence and justice consequences.’’
Employers routinely required applicants to have a licence, even when driving was not part of the job.
‘‘Employers use a licence as a way of accessing reliability to get to work, as well as an indication of aptitude and attitude.’’
In the construction, transport and infrastructures sectors, employers viewed the lack of a licence ‘‘ as a key barrier’’ to hiring young people, the report said.