The Government is proposing the biggest shake-up of the driver’s licence system in more than a decade.
The raft of proposed changes include dropping one of the two practical tests required to get a full driver’s licence.
Transport Minister Chris Bishop said getting a driver’s licence was an important part of participating in society but that data showed many drivers on their restricted were holding off on getting their full.
“We’ve heard for a while now as a government that the system just hasn’t been working as efficiently as people would like, and that there are particularly young people out there who are really reluctant to go and get their full licence because it is stressful, it is anxiety-inducing, and it is costly as well.”
Dropping the requirement for a full licence test would cut its near hundred-dollar fee, bringing the cost to get a full licence down from $362.50 to $263.70.
Under the proposal, restricted drivers would be eligible for a full licence after 18 months, or 12 months if they complete an advanced driving course.
However, Bishop said there was a catch for the automatic qualification.
“You will have to keep a clean driving record, so any traffic infringements, or anything that breaks the law, will essentially reset the clock.”
Encouraging road safety
The Government’s proposing having only one practical test to get a full licence. (Source: 1News)
Other changes to the driver’s licensing system proposed by the Government addressed questions over road safety.
Learner and restricted drivers could have their licences suspended after incurring 50 demerit points rather than the current threshold of 100 demerit points.
A zero-alcohol limit would be extended to cover a learner or restricted driver of any age, in addition to the existing limit for under 20s.
A hazard perception test may also be introduced at the end of the learner stage.
“These measures are designed to encourage safe driving from these drivers while they gain experience behind the wheel,” Bishop said.
A reduction in the frequency of eyesight testing is also proposed.
Bishop said drivers at present are required to undergo eyesight testing before their learner, restricted, and full driving tests.
“This means some people end up having their vision tested three times between age 16 and 18, while a person aged over 25 going through the process to get their driver licence can have their vision tested three times in just nine months.”
He said evidence suggested little safety benefit from this repeated testing and that it was proposed testing occurred on application for a driver’s first licence and at when that licence is first renewed when they turn 45.
A declaration that a driver’s vision had not deteriorated would be required at other times.
“We are not proposing changes to eyesight testing for heavy-vehicle licences or endorsements, or for people over 75 years,” Bishop said.
No changes to licence requirements for overseas licence conversions, senior drivers, or licence reinstatements were proposed.
“We believe our proposals strike the right balance between making it easier to progress through the system and maintaining road safety.”
Demerit points, alcohol limits
Young driver Lock van Bruggen has obtained a full licence but is waiting to return to driving due to a medical condition.
The 20-year-old told 1News that they welcomed the proposed change to demerit points.
“I see countless people speeding, going through red lights and being dangerous with where they drive because they’ll only get a few demerit points off of what is quite a big stack of demerit points.
“They can sort of calculate and take those hits instead of saying, ‘I’ve got to tighten up my driving’.”
The Automobile Association (AA) also welcomed the demerit point and alcohol limit change proposals but said more could be done to improve safety.
New Zealand has one of the worst rates of fatal crashes in the OECD.
AA road safety spokesperson Dylan Thomsen said if the country’s fatal crash rate among young people was the same as Australia’s it would mean 20 fewer young people dying on our roads each year.
“One of the things that we think is missing – and we hope the Government’s open to looking at – is actually doing more to lift the level of practice and skills and training that people have to do before they start driving.”
The AA wants learners to complete at least 60 hours of supervised practice before they sit their first practical test. Australia and the United States have similar policies.
The supervision could be carried out by a family member, using an app which tracks the time and distance of a journey, Thomsen said.
“Getting young people to spend more time practising before they start driving solo has been shown in many countries to be one of the biggest things for reducing crash rates.”
If the proposed changes were implemented, they would come into force in July 2026.
Public consultation will open on the Ministry of Transport website on April 14 and run for three weeks.
