Licence changes – rookie drivers cruising for a bruising?

Major changes are ahead for New Zealand’s driver’s licensing system, but some are worried they will come at the cost of driver safety.

From January, drivers on restricted licences will no longer have to sit a practical test to earn their full license. Instead, a clean driving record will allow them to move on to a full license after 12 months behind the wheel.

While the government expects the new system will be cheaper and simpler, Glen Connelly of Glen’s Driving School says he and other driving instructors in Pukekohe are wondering how safe new drivers will be.

“The problem is that students get their restricted licences, drive around for three or four months and then disappear to university or their OE (Overseas Experience),” he told the Times. “They’ll have limited driving experience, or none at all, and they could then come back after two or three years and [gain] their full even if they haven’t driven a car in the meantime.”

Connelly believes more testing should be required before new drivers hit the roads.

“I’d like to see an assessment before they give them their full, or records about how often they’ve been driving,” he adds. “Or, they could go from a learner’s test straight to a full one – while making that test more difficult – just like they do in the UK.”

While restricted licence holders may be able to avoid another test under the new rules, learners aged under 25 years will have to wait twice as long – from six months to 12 – before they can sit their restricted test.

These younger drivers also face a reduced restricted period – from 18 to 12 months. There is no change for drivers aged over 25 who will continue to clock up more driving experience over six months before becoming eligible to apply for a full licence.

However, with no test required, obtaining a full licence should become cheaper with fees reduced to $25.90, down from almost $100.

The NZ Transport Agency is still working through the details so the exact requirements may change before they come into effect in January.