Concerning gaps in driver knowledge sparks call for licence renewal refreshers
New research showing drivers answered fewer than 70% of road rules questions correctly has prompted the AA to call for optional knowledge refreshers when licences are renewed.
The AA Research Foundation’s Driver Knowledge Over Time study of 535 licenced New Zealand drivers asked them 24 questions about road rules and driving behaviour. The average score was 16.3, or 68% highlighting a concerning gap in driver knowledge.
Surprisingly, the research found driver experience made little difference. People who had been driving for more than four decades scored no better or worse than those who had held a licence for only a year.
Dylan Thomsen, AA Research and Road Safety Manager, says the findings highlight an opportunity to boost driver knowledge and road safety with an optional online road rules refresher course when people renew their licence every 10 years.
“Every day there are incidents that cause near-misses or minor crashes because road users misunderstand each other or someone didn't know the rules.
“Currently licence renewal is an administrative process with a new photo, updating details and so on. The next Government can do something far more useful for drivers and road safety at this time, by giving people the option to do an online refresher module in return for a lower renewal fee.
“Let’s reward drivers for doing the right thing.”
This is one of five ideas the AA has outlined in its 2026 Election Calls which are changes the next Government could make to create safer roads and smarter spending in transport.
Dylan says driver knowledge scores returned in the study were lower than the AA hoped to see with none of the participants getting a perfect score and only a handful reaching 90%. When sitting the learner licence test, the required pass mark is above 90%.
Common areas of confusion included indicating at roundabouts, driving around bus lanes and sharing the road with cyclists. Even give way rules, where people scored best in the survey, still only averaged 80% correct answers.
“Our roads work best when everyone knows the rules - there are fewer misunderstandings, less frustration and fewer avoidable incidents.
“This won’t prevent every crash. Risky attitudes, dangerous behaviour and other factors like fatigue, impairment or poor decisions will always play a key role. But better understanding of the rules could help prevent thousands of avoidable incidents every day.”
Funding options could include drawing on fines money collected for driving offences each year or using some of the money that is currently used for road safety advertising and promotion.
“Road rules and driving environments change. Giving drivers the opportunity to refresh their knowledge when they renew their licence is a practical step that could improve safety and reduce avoidable conflicts on our roads.”
To view the research visit. https://www.aa.co.nz/about/aa-research-foundation/programmes/what-happens-to-driver-knowledge-over-time/
ENDS
For more information contact:
Dylan Thomsen
AA Road Safety spokesperson
027 703 9935
dthomsen@aa.co.nz