The number of young Northlanders passing the new on-road restricted driving licence test has increased since its introduction 18 months ago and the region is now matching the national average pass rate.
But many Northlanders are still failing the test because they haven't mastered basic driving skills, says Rick Barber, regional manager of the NZ Transport Agency group which oversees licence testing.
"Feedback from Whangarei shows the two most common faults that lead to a failed test in the city are failing to stop and failing to signal, especially when leaving a roundabout," he says.
The Transport Agency encourages learner drivers to clock up about 100 hours of supervised practice and preparation before sitting the test.
"They have to demonstrate a higher standard of driving to pass," Mr Barber says.
Road crashes are the single biggest killer of teenagers in New Zealand and the new test for learner drivers to obtain a restricted licence is part of the Government's Safer Journeys road safety strategy.
Before the new test was introduced in February 2012 the national pass rate averaged around 80 per cent.
Only about 20 per cent of Northlanders who sat the more challenging new test in March 2012 passed, but the pass rate for 16- to 19-year-olds in Northland is now 47 per cent which is on par with the national average pass rate of 48 per cent.
The Northland pass rate is 45 per cent for people aged 20-24 and 47 per cent for those aged 19-25.
Of the three test centres in Northland. the pass rate is lower at Whangarei than in Kaitaia and Kerikeri.
Kaitaia, which began testing in May last year, has tested 411 people and its overall pass rate is 52 per cent and the percentage of passes is similar for the 733 people tested as Kerikeri.
But at Whangarei, where 2011 people have been tested, the pass rate is only 44 per cent.
Free driver licence resources are on a Transport Agency/ACC online practice programme, www.practice.co.nz.
Information on the restricted licence test is on the Transport Agency website http:/www.nzta.govt.nz/licence/photo/docs/restricted-test-guide.pdf.