A fresh look at how we train new drivers could be an opportunity to change New Zealand’s driving culture and make our roads a safer place, the AA says.

‘Identifying opportunities to improve the driver licensing system’ was one of the four main actions included in the Government’s Road Safety Objectives document released Thursday, and AA road safety spokesperson Dylan Thomsen says this has the potential to create long-lasting reductions in harm on our roads.

The latest Ministry of Transport figures show drivers under 25 were involved in 96 of 337 fatal crashes in 2022.

“Having this proportion of young people being involved in fatal crashes is not the norm in other countries - people aged 18-24 are nearly three times more likely to die on the roads here than in Australia,” says Dylan.

“There are many ways the licensing system could be changed to produce better prepared, safer drivers and, by doing that, the AA thinks we can make a real difference in turning New Zealand’s shocking crash numbers around.

“It is great to see the Government looking to take action to improve how people learn to drive.”

A recent AA Research Foundation paper identified measures with beneficial outcomes for novice drivers that could be used to strengthen New Zealand’s three-stage Graduated Driver Licensing System (GDLS) after benchmarking the GDLS against overseas schemes.

“This study has identified measures that could reduce harm on the roads, and we think they are worth taking a closer look at to see if they could work here.

 “We need to give novice drivers the best possible chance of developing skills and habits that will make our roads safer,” Dylan says.

Dylan says the AA is supportive of the other key actions outlined in the objectives document.

“The review of fines and penalties is also long overdue, and we are very pleased to see such a strong focus on addressing impaired driving – alcohol and drugs are one of the leading factors in fatal crashes.”

Some different approaches to licensing overseas with proven safety benefits as highlighted in the recent AA Research Foundation study

        Extended learner period:

• Several Australian states have a minimum learner’s period of 12 months - double New Zealand’s minimum six-month period - which gives novice drivers more time to accumulate supervised driving experience and develop safer practices.
  
  Mandatory supervised driving hours:

• Several countries require learners to complete a certain number of supervised driving hours before being able to drive alone. Most Australian and US states require 50 to 120 hours (including night hours) - these help drivers gain experience under different conditions. More time behind the wheel as a learner is acknowledged to improve a driver’s readiness for solo driving.  A past Swedish study showed novice drivers with 120 hours of supervised driving experience were involved in 35% fewer crashes than those with 40 to 50 hours.
  
  Hazard perception test:

• Hazard perception tests are a prerequisite for progressing from a learner to a restricted license in several jurisdictions. This is in use in Australia and the UK to enhance young drivers' abilities to anticipate and react to potential hazards. The tests are undertaken in a safe environment such as a simulator or using video clips.
  
  Zero blood alcohol concentration (BAC) limit until full licence:

• In New Zealand only novice drivers under the age of 20 are subject to a zero BAC limit. There is a zero-alcohol limit in all Australian states for learner and restricted drivers regardless of age.
  
  Tougher penalties for traffic offenses:

• In New Zealand all licence holders accumulate the same number of demerit points before losing their licence, but in Australia, novice drivers have a lower threshold, with any offences staying on their record for a longer period of time.  Increasing the severity of penalties for traffic violations committed by novice drivers could act as a deterrent against risky behaviours.
  
  ENDS