Age Restriction On Hire-Car Drivers

Press, Volume CV, Issue 30956, 12 January 1966, Page 1

Age Restriction On Hire-Car Drivers

(New Zealand Press Association) WELLINGTON, January 11. A national rental car company has restricted the hiring of its vehicles to drivers over the age of 25. Another of the four nation-wide companies with offices in Wellington is “taking great care” in hiring cars to drivers under 25.

The local managers of the two companies said today they had raised the age limit from 21 because of the number of young people involved in accidents.

They said they had taken note of the fact that the greater proportion of accidents involved people between 21 and 25.

By law, the hirer of a rental vehicle must be over 21. The manager of one, Mutual Rentals, Ltd., Mr R. Waller, said his company was backed by insurance com-

panies in raising the age limit. The manager of the other company said he did not want his or his firm’s name published. The manager of Tasman Rentals said his firm would continue to hire to most applicants over 21.

“It is not always the younger drivers who get into trouble,” he said. “Many young drivers are responsible people. Mind you, if anyone appears to be irresponsible, no matter what his age, we will refuse to hire to him.”