NZ Police has highlighted statistics which show they recorded over 120,000 driver licence breaches last year. New Zealand Transport Agency statistics also show that nearly 200,000 people have been on their learner or restricted licence for more than five years.

These statistics show the system is not working, says AA General Manager Motoring Affairs Mike Noon.

He says that a large number of Kiwis are choosing not to comply with the conditions of their learner and restricted licences, which means that current incentives and penalties are not working.

"This is a long-standing issue that the Government needs to address as part of its initiatives this year to improve road safety," says Mr Noon.

"Obviously we need to find a way to migrate the nearly 200,000 people who should be on their full licence onto it.

"For people just entering the driver licence system, we need a better process to ensure they go through the various stages to get their full driver licence. We also need more effective incentives and penalties to make sure they comply with the conditions of their learner and restricted licences, supported by more education about why the restrictions are there.

"Driving very late at night or with a car load of distracting passengers is more difficult and dangerous. The conditions on learner and restricted licences are there so that novice drivers build up experience in safer driving conditions before they drive in these more difficult conditions. They are there to keep young drivers safe, not to punish them."

The AA produces a brochure called 'Going Solo' which explains the reasons for the conditions on the learner and restricted licences and gives parents tips for developing their child's driving skills.

Mr Noon also says that if drivers are in a crash and are found to be have been breaching their licence conditions, they won't be covered by insurance, which is another really good reason to progress through the licence system and obtain a full licence.

The Association has recently endorsed a UN resolution for a Decade of Action for Road Safety and will be working with government agencies to get the best outcomes from the Government's new Safer Journeys Road Safety Strategy. The AA believes that getting the licensing system working properly should be a high priority, particularly for novice drivers, says Mr Noon.

For more information contact

Mike Noon
General Manager Motoring Affairs
New Zealand Automobile Association
T. +64 9 931 9984
M.+64 021 659 704
E. mnoon@aa.co.nz

The 'Going Solo' brochure can be found on the AA website.

The New Zealand Automobile Association is an incorporated society with over one million members. It represents the interests of road users who collectively pay over $2 billion in taxes each year through fuels excise, road user charges and GST.