Driving Problems Among the Refugees

Running Head: DRIVING PROBLEMS AMOMG THE REFUGEES
Driving Problems Among the Refugees
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1DRIVING PROBLEMS AMOMG THE REFUGEES
In my experience of dealing with migrants, I have observed their trends, practices and
faced a number of challenges along the way. I work for Migration Action Trust: a community
organization in New Zealand working for the welfare of migrants and refugees in the country
(Migrant Action Trust, 2019). One of the many ways in which we assist this community to have
a better life in here is by providing them with driving lessons and learners license. However,
there has been a growing trend of breaking traffic rules, driving without a license and drunk
driving among the refugees. This is proving to be a serious ethical dilemma and a serious risk for
them as well as general citizens.
Initially, these immigrants faced problems in getting driver’s permit in the country, as
they would face problems related to language, understanding instructions and rules. As a result
of this they could avail personal transportation mediums and had to rely on public transport. The
initiative to assist immigrants was taken by the government (New Zealand Immigration, 2019),
through various programs where volunteers were encouraged to participate in helping former
refugees learn how to drive. Migrant Action Trust takes part in this initiative through Puketpapa
Community Driving School, a community driven social enterprise aimed at providing driving
training to immigrants.
Driver’s training is among the many assisting services we provide, such as language and
communication or how to construct a CV or a cover letter for employment application. However,
we are seeing an increasing rate of carelessness among the people of this community when it
comes to responsible driving and observing traffic rules. The number of immigrants caught
breaking traffic rules has shot up significantly in the past two months. Several feedbacks have
come to us from the Transport Agency of rules flouted by immigrants who received learner’s

2DRIVING PROBLEMS AMOMG THE REFUGEES
license from us. The most common problem found among the flouters was driving under the
influence of alcohol.
This issue confused me as these migrants, while undergoing training with us did not have
or develop any such habits. Migration Action Trust maintains strict attention to rules and
regulations while imparting driver’s training. We take care to ensure that the trainees are
responsible and are fully aware of all road laws so that out on the street they are not faced with
any kind of unknown adversity that can affect them in any way. During the training period, the
learners were decently obedient and adhered to the rules we taught them. Most of them were
diligent and those with previous driving experience were particularly fast learners. We only
issued learners permit to those drivers who successfully cleared our learner’s test, through which
we ensured that all laws and regulations were clear and comprehendible to the drivers.
Despite the provisions, their nature changed soon after getting their learners license or, for some
of them, their official driver’s license. We saw these immigrants drive through the yellow light;
violate the seatbelt rule- for both drivers and passengers; drive without a license or valid
paperwork; over speeding and talking over their phones while driving. The most serious problem
has been found to be drinking while driving. Traffic police have caught several drivers with
alcohol on their breath, over the past two months (Mahayni, 2017). Most of these offenders have
been found to be former immigrants and refugees. This has not just been a legal nuisance, but
has also led to some moderate and minor scale accidents.
A couple of cases of drivers driving into trees after losing control over the wheel have been
reported in Auckland along with more reports of cars ramming into other vehicles. Parents have
even been caught driving irresponsibly and breaking riles even while taking their children to