AA hopeful licence changes will lead to safer young drivers

The AA is welcoming the announcement that young drivers will soon spend at least 12 months on a learner licence, with the opportunity to progress sooner by completing a set number of supervised practice hours or approved professional training.

The Government has today revealed big changes to getting a drivers licence in New Zealand that will start in January 2027.

Some of the major changes will be:

• The default learner licence period becoming 12 months instead of 6
• The removal of the test to gain a full licence
• Tougher consequences for driving offences while on a restricted licence
• A zero-alcohol limit unless a full licence is held

The AA hopes the changes will be a positive and balanced step forward for road safety, placing greater emphasis on experience, skill development and safer driving habits before young people begin driving solo.

“The Government wanted to make it cheaper and easier for people to get to a full licence and the removal of the full test will achieve that – and they have listened to the sector to introduce other changes which will hopefully lead to better prepared, safer young drivers as well,” says AA road safety spokesperson Dylan Thomsen.

“The overall package of changes strike a good balance in the AA’s view.”

Extending the default learner period from 6 months up to 12 months while actively encouraging more meaningful practice was a change from the Government’s original proposal and something that the AA wanted to see.

Authorities will decide in coming months exactly how many hours of practice or what professional training will be required to qualify for the shorter learner period.

“Time alone doesn’t make safer drivers – experience does. The new system will encourage learners wanting to quickly gain a restricted licence to have to put in more practice.

“A longer learner period, combined with incentives to gain real driving experience or undertake professional training, gives young drivers a much better chance of developing the skills and judgement they need to be safer on the road,” Dylan says.

A recent AA Research Foundation survey found around half of drivers under 25 had less than 40 hours of practice before sitting their restricted test, with nearly one in five reporting fewer than 15 hours.

“Most comparable countries have automatic progression to a full licence but require learner drivers to log a minimum number of supervised hours, complete professional training, or both. Bringing New Zealand more into line with these proven approaches is a sensible move,” Dylan says.

The AA also strongly supports the other changes of a zero-alcohol limit for learner and restricted licence holders and tougher consequences for rule breaking.

In the new system, restricted licence holders who commit no driving offences over 12 months will automatically gain a full licence with no test required. However, if restricted drivers commit any driving offence that comes with demerit points they will have an extra 6-months added to their restricted licence period. Repeat offending will result in additional 6-month extensions added.

“Clear boundaries and consequences matter, but these changes balance enforcement with education, which is exactly what’s needed,” Dylan says.

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. 

“Our road safety statistics speak for themselves. Compared with Australia, our 18 to 24-year-olds are nearly three times more likely to die on our roads,” says Dylan. 

“If New Zealand had the same rate of road deaths among our young people as Australia, we would have about 20 fewer deaths each year.” 

The AA is encouraging families, supervisors and learner drivers to make the most of the upcoming strengthened learner period.

“The learner and restricted stages are a golden opportunity to shape lifelong driving habits. Encouraging more practice, professional training and building up more experience during this time has seen big reductions in crashes involving young drivers in other countries.”

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.