Practical test for restricted licences to get tougher

People wanting to gain a restricted New Zealand driver licence will soon face a longer and more challenging practical test. Photo / Thinkstock

The practical test for a restricted driving licence is about to get a lot harder.

In just under a month a longer and more challenging driving practical comes into force.

The Transport Agency wants learners to clock up 120 hours of supervised practise before they sit it.

It says research shows young drivers who have had that long on their learner licence have 40 per cent fewer crashes than drivers who've only done 50 hours.