The new system will take effect from the end of January next year.
But will the first major change to the system in 15 years make our roads safer?
AA road safety manager Dylan Thomsen told The Front Page that he hopes the changes will lead to a much healthier driving culture.
“We are actually hoping that this is going to be a bit of a milestone moment where we start having better-prepared young drivers, where we start taking learning to drive more seriously in New Zealand.
“What people tend to learn early on often sticks with them for decades or through their whole driving life.”
The AA supports removing the second test because this system encourages more practice requirements.
For instance, the new rules would mean those aged under 25 could opt to reduce their 12-month learner period to only six months, if they record practice hours or complete an approved practical course.
The director of land transport will set the minimum number of hours (with a maximum of 60 hours) and the process for recording them. This will be communicated publicly before the new system comes into effect in January 2027.
“Most overseas jurisdictions have targets between 60 and up to 120 hours. The evidence shows that if you get to that 60-hour level, generally, there’s been about a 10 to 20% reduction reduction in crashes involving young drivers after that system has been implemented,” Thomsen said.
Listen to the full episode to hear more about:
- Cost savings and barriers
- How to monitor practice hours
- Expected road safety impacts
- Long-term benefits.
The Front Page is a daily news podcast from the New Zealand Herald, available to listen to every weekday from 5am. The podcast is presented by Chelsea Daniels, an Auckland-based journalist with a background in world news and crime/justice reporting who joined NZME in 2016.
You can follow the podcast at iHeartRadio, Apple Podcasts, Spotify or wherever you get your podcasts.
