Time limit set for learners, restricted

Changes to New Zealand's Graduated Driver Licensing System have been announced that set a time limit on new learner and restricted car and motorcycle licences.

Drivers with learner or restricted licences will lose them if they don't upgrade within five years.

Changes to New Zealand's Graduated Driver Licensing System have been announced which will set a time limit on new learner and restricted car and motorcycle licences to encourage drivers and riders to progress to the next licence level within five years.

The Associate Minister of Transport, Michael Woodhouse, said the changes were behind moves aimed at improving the safety of novice drivers and motorcyclists.

From December 1 this year, drivers or riders who don't move on to the next stage within five years will need to pass another theory test to renew their learner or restricted licence after it expires.

Transport Agency Road Safety Director Ernst Zollner said the introduction of a time limit for each of the learner and restricted licence stages would encourage novice drivers and motorcyclists to progress to a full licence within a reasonable timeframe.

"The purpose of the Graduated Driver Licensing System is for novice drivers and riders to progress from a learner to a full licence by gradually gaining the skills and experience needed to drive safely - and to demonstrate that they have gained those skills by passing practical driving tests on the way to gaining a full licence," he said.

Restrictions applying to learner and restricted licences were there to ensure novice drivers gained experience and skills under low-risk conditions so they could gain their full licence, Mr Zollner said. "Drivers who stay at one licence stage indefinitely aren't demonstrating that they've gained the skills and competence to drive safely, and many offences for breaching licence conditions are committed by drivers who have held a learner or restricted licence for an extended time."

The changes would work together with other measures introduced over recent years to improve the safety of novice drivers, including raising the minimum licensing age from 15 to 16, the introduction of a zero alcohol limit for teen drivers and the rollout of more challenging practical driver tests to gain restricted and full licences, he said.

Other changes to the Driver Licensing Rule include strengthening the 'evidence of identity' requirements for licence applications, and allowing driver licensing and driver testing transactions to be completed via a wider range of channels such as online or at kiosks.

Info at www.transport.govt.nz/land/timelicences