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Change in restricted licence rules

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Sat, 28 Jan 2012 8:02a.m.

The test for a full licence will become shorter following the changes (file pic)

The test for a full licence will become shorter following the changes (file pic)

Drivers trying for their restricted licence will soon have do 120 hours of supervised practice before they pass.

The change, imposed by AA New Zealand, will come into effect from February 1.

Presently, drivers are not required to undertake any set amount of supervised driving practice to gain a restricted licence.

They do, however, need to pass a practical test.

AA motoring affairs manager Mike Noon says the new rule will mean more safer drivers on New Zealand roads.

"Road crashes are the single biggest killer of 15-24 year old in our country and in 2010 there were 113 fatalities and 4334 injuries on our roads in this age group," he says.

"The riskiest time in a driver's life is when they first start driving solo yet the testing emphasis under the previous system was focused on a driver gaining their full licence."

The full licence test will become shorter following the changes.

The combined cost of the two tests will be unchanged.

NZN

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Comments

31 Jan 2012 06:48a.m.

Eric wrote:

This article is completely incorrect. Firstly the law change was imposed by the NZ Transport Agency (NZTA) not the AA (who have the legislative power). Secondly the 120 hours of supervised practice is not mandatory as there is no way to of logging these hours. It is simply encouraged in order to pass the new tougher restricted test. Thirdly the change will come into affect on the 27 February 2012 and the fees have changed. The restricted will be $134.80 and the full 109.50. Just check out the NZTA website, its all there in black and white.

30 Jan 2012 07:41p.m.

Daniel wrote:

are they expecting us to pay for 120 hours of supervised hours thats alot of money just to sit a $130 dollar test for your restricted licence my son has had his licence since he was 15 and now just turned 16 and a half ready to book his licence then we see this are we back to square one again if so im sure there is going to be alot of licence drivers driving unsupervised due to this,,

29 Jan 2012 01:49p.m.

James wrote:

Can someone explain to me who the supervisor will be? Can it be anybody like a family member with a full license or does it have to be someone like a driving instructor supervising you?

28 Jan 2012 10:14p.m.

Mark wrote:

On the NZTA website they have had February 27th listed as the change date. Is the February 1st date a mistake or has it changed?

28 Jan 2012 05:31p.m.

Jackie wrote:

My Son has held his learners since he was 15 (the old process), we have been granted an exemption for him to sit his restricted 1 month prior to his 16 1/2 normal sitting, he is booked to sit on Feb 20 - we have no way of proving all the hours he has done, but they are way beyond 120 hrs, so are we back to square one and he now has to wait until he has clocked up another 120 hrs? Nothing on NZTA website or anywhere else to back this story up, or explain the process

28 Jan 2012 01:55p.m.

Luke wrote:

Yeah Alex excellent point, who will validate the 120 hours? and will this be an added cost??

28 Jan 2012 08:17a.m.

Alex wrote:

It's a good idea in principle, that theoretically drivers with more practical driving experience should be more competent behind the wheel. The report makes no mention however as to how the 120 hours will be validated by the governing body in order to let licensees book in for their exam.