More experience is the key to keeping young drivers safe

The existing graduated driver licensing system is not adequately preparing our young drivers for when they start to drive solo on our roads.

“The first six months of driving solo is when young drivers are at the greatest risk of killing or seriously injuring themselves and others,” says Mike Noon, AA General Manager for Motoring Affairs.

“To reduce their risk we need to ensure our young drivers are better prepared when they receive their restricted licence and start driving without supervision.”

“This lack of training and experience cannot be replaced by simply raising the driving age. A poorly prepared and inexperienced 17 year old driver is at risk, as is a poorly prepared and inexperienced 15 year old driver.”

The AA believes three key changes are needed to New Zealand’s existing graduated driver licensing system to keep our young drivers safe:

1. Double the period of the learner licence from 6 months to 12 months to increase the supervised driving experience. This will ensure new drivers get more on-road experience before they drive solo. International best practice is for 120 hours of supervised driving before driving without supervision. Young drivers are very safe when supervised. Increasing the learner licence period to 12 months means young New Zealanders will be at least 16 years old before they can drive on our roads without supervision. This would not disadvantage young New Zealanders who leave school at 16 years of age and need to be able to drive to work.

2. Require all new drivers to complete a compulsory attitudinal training course as part of their restricted licence. This will ensure that all new drivers are aware of, and understand the risks and responsibilities of, driving on our roads.
3. Make the restricted licence test tougher, include risk management such as eye scanning and hazard detection. This will ensure that new drivers are better prepared to recognise hazards and identify risks when they start driving solo.
“It is easy to think there is nothing parents and guardians can do to keep young loved ones safe when they start to drive. It is certainly a risky time and driving should always be treated as a privilege and a responsibility. However the AA believes parents can play a bigger role in helping to prepare their children to drive.”

“Parents and guardians have a key role as supervisors of those learning to drive. They need to commit lots of time to this important task, up to 120 hours of supervised driving is considered necessary. This training needs to cover and prepare the learner driver for all road and traffic situations.”

“When young drivers get their restricted licences parents should set very strict rules about them breaching of licence conditions. Restricted licence drivers are not permitted to carry passengers or drive between 10:00pm and 5:00am, without supervision. These restrictions are based on the risk of young drivers crashing and being hurt or killed.”

“Parents often partly fund or provide their children with their first car. They therefore have the right to set some very strong rules about the use of these cars. Children need to be told – if you break your restricted licence conditions, then you lose the privilege to drive. By being tough, parents can help keep their kids safe.”

“The AA has widely consulted on its Young Driver policies and received considerable support. They are practical, evidence based, risk targeted and if adopted and implemented will make a significant difference in protecting and supporting young New Zealanders during this very high risk period as they learn to drive,” says Mr Noon.

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