Despite official reports and comments downplaying the seriousness of overseas driver issues, many New Zealanders remain sceptical.
Perhaps the reality is not that bad, and media focus exaggerates the matter.
This, after all, does occur. Many New Zealanders, for example, have become more fearful of crime, despite falling crime rates.
Perhaps, though, the public is suspicious about the way figures behind reassurances are used.
They run counter to what they see and hear.
Instinctively, they think things do not add up.
No doubt the figures are "accurate'' to a certain extent.
But, as is well known, there are "lies, damned lies and statistics'', data and numbers used in ways that mislead, deliberately or otherwise.
Are the correct comparisons being made?
Are the right questions being asked?
What has not been considered?
What has been left out?
Are conclusions drawn from the data fair?
The latest report, by the Ministry of Transport, is called "Overseas Drivers in Crashes'' and it revealed the large majority of overseas drivers involved in crashes had Australian driving licences.
Given the large numbers of Australians driving (as visitors and residents), that is no surprise, a point acknowledged by Associate Transport Minster Craig Foss.
But he also uses this "fact'' to lessen the problems from nations which drive on the right.
The report analysed drivers with an overseas licence in 2014 and found them at fault in 15 of 16 fatal crashes (22 deaths), 78 of 100 serious injury crashes and 322 of 436 minor injury crashes.
Those seem high proportions, a worrying sign which is, itself, at variance to the assurances.
One of the keys to understanding these figures is, indeed, the amount of driving being undertaken.
The 22 deaths might be a low proportion of the 294 that year (7.5%).
But it would seem likely those on foreign licences made up far less that the 7.5% of the driving.
The proportion would be especially low in much of the North Island, rising in the popular southern tourist areas, and it is a high enough proportion and there are sufficient crashes to cause concern.
Australians, supposedly, committed the same types of driver mistakes as New Zealanders, such as excessive speed, distractions and at intersections.
And yet, going by Australian road toll figures for last year, Australians could be safer drivers.
Road deaths in Australia are about one for every 20,000 people.
The New Zealand figure is one in every 14,000. On the other hand, the lower toll across the Tasman could be because of better quality roads and road design.
Another key to underlying angst about overseas drivers is the nature of crashes on highways.
These are not fatal crashes involving a group of young people late at night, or someone fleeing police.
These are often crashes or incidents during the day, and they have involved high-profile cases of vehicles on the wrong side of the road, overtaking when they should not or entering intersections into oncoming traffic.
Too many Southern motorists driving on popular tourist roads have seen frightening incidents to believe some of the spin on official statistics.
It makes sense, too, that drivers ignorant of the road code, the driving customs, the road signs, and who are driving an unfamiliar vehicle on an unfamiliar side of the road will face severe challenges.
Limited English could also restrict their ability to comprehend signs and warnings.
Likewise, New Zealanders driving in much of Asia are likely to struggle in foreign conditions.
Driving will be different and difficult for many of the visitors to this country.
It is important not to overstate the issues faced by overseas drivers, especially because so many New Zealanders are poor and dangerous drivers themselves.
Nonetheless, reports which downplay the issues need to be treated with some scepticism.
Figures, however "accurate'', need to be understood in their contexts and their complexity.
