this post was submitted on 03 Feb 2026
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Driver licence system overhaul unveiled (www.rnz.co.nz)
submitted 3 days ago by Dave@lemmy.nz to c/politics@lemmy.nz
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Making the announcement in Auckland on Tuesday, Transport Minister Chris Bishop said the current system was "expensive, outdated and no longer works as well as it should".

Key changes

  • No more full licence test: Drivers will no longer need to sit a second practical test to move from the restricted to full licence, saving time and money. This applies to Class 1 (car) licences only.
  • Longer time spent on learners for under 25s: There will be a 12-month learner period for under 25s, an increase of six months.
  • Option to reduce learner period: There will be an option for under 25s to reduce their 12-month learner period back to six months by recording practice hours or completing an approved practical course.
  • New restricted periods: The restricted period will be 12 months for under 25s and six months for over 25s, with no option to reduce it with a defensive driving course.
  • Cheaper to get a full licence: The total cost of getting a Class 1 (car) licence will reduce by $80 under the new system.
  • Encouraging safe driving: Drivers on their restricted licence will face a further six months on their restricted if they get demerits.
  • Fewer eyesight screenings: Eyesight screenings will only be required at the first licence application and at each renewal. This applies to Class 1 and Class 6 (motorcycle) licences.
  • Zero-alcohol rule expanded: All learner and restricted drivers, regardless of age, will be subject to a zero-alcohol limit.
  • Stronger oversight of training providers: NZ Transport Agency (NZTA) will gain new powers to monitor and suspend driver training course providers.
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[–] piwakawakas@lemmy.nz 4 points 3 days ago (1 children)

This is a big WTF for me. NZ already has not great driving standards

[–] Dave@lemmy.nz 2 points 3 days ago (2 children)

I think this has been discussed before, but they say NZ has two tests where most countries have one so we should drop one of them.

You know what else most of those countries have? A requirement to spend time with a driving instructor, which we don't have.

After cancelling road to zero, now this, it kind of feels like they want people to die in preventable accidents.

[–] piwakawakas@lemmy.nz 4 points 3 days ago

Yeah my thoughts as well. I don't mind having just one test. But to not have any kind of compulsory driving instruction with that one test is kind of crazy.

Tbh it kind of makes sense to have a part of Waka kotahi that organises the training with the test at the end.

If people want to have additional driver instruction to make sure they pass the test outside of that then go for it.

But at least with a central agency doing it, then everyone is theoretically being trained to the same standard.

[–] piwakawakas@lemmy.nz 2 points 3 days ago (1 children)

I did come across a thread on Bluesky in which the author of an NZ traffic study seemed mostly in favour of the changes. So maybe I'm completely wrong. It just seems counter intuitive.

https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/abs/pii/S0022437510000654

[–] Dave@lemmy.nz 2 points 3 days ago

That paper introduction is super interesting.

The introduction of the graduated licence system led to an ongoing crash rate reduction of (only) 8%!

A study in Canada found that education programmes to reduce time on learner licence led to an increase in crashes among those that took the extra course.

Crash rates in new drivers reduce by 2/3 after 500 miles of driving.

If the test isn't as important (especially after the full test got made easier and the restricted much harder) then perhaps our system should require a longer restricted licence period, not to give everyone the discount from doing a course without them needing to do the course.

I guess that author is mostly in favour because the test isn't the important thing, but having people drive for longer (getting more experience) is important and this change will have the average restricted driver get less experience.