Other Bay of Plenty instructors have described the full licence practical driving test - set to be scrapped under the proposal - as “a joke” and “not good”.
TransportMinister Chris Bishop announced a suite of proposed changes to New Zealand’s graduated driver licensing system on Sunday.
Instead of passing a second practical test to progress to a full licence, restricted drivers would need to keep a clean driving record for 18 months for under-25s, or 12 months if they complete an advanced driving course. Any driving offence would restart the clock.
Barry, of Helen’s Driving School, said the changes could not come soon enough.
“Hurry up and do it because there’s gonna be less accidents on the road.”
She said her training often involved retraining as family or friends often taught new drivers bad habits.
“I have to undo a lot to get them driving correctly, to pass their tests and drive safely on the road,” Barry said.
The demerit point threshold for a suspension would also be halved to 50 for learner and restricted drivers under the proposal.
Demerit point threshold for a suspension would be halved to 50 for learner and restricted drivers under the proposal.
Rotorua driving instructor Jackson Te Bairi, of Jackson’s Driver Training, would like to see more consequences than losing your licence for three months for incurring too many demerits.
“There should be a consequence of where they must sit at defensive driving course.”
He said it would also be good to ensure young drivers spend more time practising before attending a defensive driving course.
“It is to get a little bit more experience behind the wheel and inside a car.”
Out of the two practical tests - one for a restricted licence and the second for a full, the latter was a “bit of a joke”, he said.
“You just do a 20-minute drive around the block.”
The proposed changes to the licence test might reduce Bay of Plenty Driving School instructor Jeroen van der Beek’s business, but he was not too concerned.
Driving instructor Jeroen van der Beek. Photo / George Novak
The proposed changes to the licence test might reduce Bay of Plenty Driving School instructor Jeroen van der Beek’s business, but he was not too concerned.
He said how the restricted licence practical test was modified would be a “key factor” in whether the changes improved road safety.
“People who don’t know how to indicate at a roundabout have had their licences for years. So that is when that education needs to happen.”
Changes to the system were not a bad idea, Whakatāne driver instructor Nick Wills of Exceed Driver Training said.
“The full driver’s licence test is not good,” he said.
He also supported the proposal to set a zero-alcohol tolerance for learner and restricted drivers of any age. Currently, any driver under 20 years of age must adhere to a zero-alcohol limit.
A Rotorua driving instructor who did not want to be named, however, disagreed with the changes.
“I think this is coming out of the blue,” he said.
Under the proposed changes, there would be no change to licence requirements for overseas licence conversion.
Three instructors NZME spoke to would like the same scrutiny applied to the international driver’s licence test.
In response, Bishop said people converting their overseas licence would still sit the full test.
The Government also proposed to reduce mandatory vision tests.
Instead of requiring these at each licence stage - which could see young drivers tested three times in two years - they would be required when applying for a first licence then at the first licence renewal after age 45.
Optometrist Kenny Jung of OPSM Tauranga said that the changes to the eye exam were quite reasonable and that vision change was unlikely in younger adults.
It would also decrease the cost for new drivers having to pay for eyesight exams, he said.
AA spokesman for transport policy and advocacy, and road safety Dylan Thomsen.
AA spokesman for transport policy and advocacy, and road safety Dylan Thomsen said New Zealand has one of the worst road safety records in the OECD.
The proposed changes could result in 20 fewer people under 25 years old dying on our road each year, he said.
“We are killing far too many young people on our roads.”
Bishop said in a statement announcing the proposal said they would make attaining a full licence “more accessible, efficient and affordable”.
