Media Release: Monday, 9 June 2025
Young drivers are committing around 40% fewer traffic offences than a decade ago but more work is needed to address remaining high youth fatality rates from road crashes, the Automobile Association says.
In 2016, the AA Research Foundation released a report into youth (15-19 year old) traffic offences that showed a substantial decline in offending between 2009 and 2013. The Foundation has recently gathered the latest data showing this downward trend has continued to 2024.
“Factoring in the substantial increase in young drivers over that time, overall offending rates have fallen by 41%, drunk and drugged driving by 58% and seatbelt offences by 52%,” says AA road safety spokesperson Dylan Thomsen.
“That’s a real positive and demonstrates that we are heading in the right direction with the various road safety initiatives and legislative and policy changes that have been undertaken over time.”
| 15-19 year old licensed drivers | Road deaths per 100,000 licensed young drivers | Traffic offences | Drunk/drugged driving offences | No seatbelt offences |
2013 | 142,159 | 22.5 | 121,237 | 4019 | 5844 |
2023 | 192,416 | 19.7 | 106,357 | 2712 | 4564 |
2024 | 204,285 | 16.6 | 102,022 | 2448 | 3938 |
Alongside the downward trend in offending, youth fatality rates from road crashes have also fallen. However, they remain tragically high, says Dylan.
“New Zealand’s young drivers have the highest rates of road deaths in the OECD. These rates are substantially above older age groups in New Zealand.
“These figures show we need to be focussing on more than just enforcement to bring crash rates down even further.”
New Zealand currently has about 90 deaths and 600 serious injuries a year from crashes where a young driver is judged to be at fault, according to Ministry of Transport data.
Dylan says the AA sees this latest data as timely with the Government currently considering changes to the Graduated Driver Licensing System.
“The AA supports some of the changes being proposed, in particular extending the zero-alcohol limit to cover a learner or restricted driver and more consequences if people offend while novice drivers.
“However, we also need to lift the level of practice, skills and training that young people have before they start driving solo to help reduce road fatalities.
“The learner and restricted stages of the licensing system are the ideal time to instil practices and habits that will keep novice drivers and others safe on the road.”
There are three key changes the AA believes need to be added to the Government’s driver licencing proposal to help bring down the tragically high rate of crashes and deaths among young New Zealanders.
- Increasing the learner period from six to 12 months to allow people to gain more experience under supervision before driving solo.
- Requiring a minimum 60 hours practice with a supervisor across a range of conditions on a learner licence – an approach used widely overseas. A recent AA Research Foundation survey found half of drivers under 25 had less than 40 hours experience before sitting the restricted test while 17% said they’d done less than 15 hours.
- Professional training incentivised by accelerating progress through the practice hours system – for example crediting two or three hours following a one-hour session with a professional instructor. The expert guidance and structured sessions of quality professional training helps drivers develop better skills, knowledge and habits.
“It has been 14 years since the last substantial review of New Zealand’s driver licence system and the AA urges the Government to take this chance to introduce changes which will start lifting New Zealand to a higher level of driver skills and safety,” says Dylan.
Members of the public can still give their view on the Government’s proposed changes to our driver licence system until midnight on Monday, June 9 via the Ministry of Transport website.
ENDS
For more information contact:
Dylan Thomsen
AA road safety spokesperson
027 703 9935
Founded in 1903, the Automobile Association (AA) is one of New Zealand’s largest membership organisations offering a wide range of products and services to its 1.1 million personal Members and roadside support for an additional 1 million vehicles through business relationships. The AA represents Members’ interests, championing road safety and advocating for road users in Government and the media.