Learner and restricted licence holders will have an expiration date of five years the Government announced today.
Associate Minister of Transport Simon Bridges says the introduction of time limits, which will come into force within two years, is part of the Government's continuing focus on the safety of young and novice drivers.
'The Government intends to limit learner and restricted licence periods to five years to encourage drivers to move through the Graduated Driver Licensing System (GDLS),” says Simon.
Currently 70 per cent of learner licence holders (205,810) have held their licence for more than two years and 37 per cent have held them for more than six years.
A total of 56 per cent of restricted licence holders (173,129) have held their licences for more than three years and 32 per cent have held them for more than six years.
Simon says when people spend two or more years on a learner licence and three or more years on a restricted licence, licence pooling occurs.
'The GDLS never intended drivers to stay on a learner or restricted licence indefinitely. What these drivers need to do is demonstrate their skills and competence and graduate to a full licence in a reasonable time.”
Pooling licence holders are also incurring high numbers of infringements for licence condition breaches.
In 2011, 71 per cent of learner licence breaches were incurred by pooled licence holders while 36 per cent of restricted licence breaches were incurred by pooled restricted licence holders.
'This level of offending indicates a lack of respect for the conditions of learner and restricted licences. It is important that these conditions are not seen as optional and we need to reinforce the message that compliance with licence conditions reduces risk.
'Limiting the time that learner and restricted licences can be held is going to encourage these licence holders to progress through the GDLS in a timely way and become skilled and safe drivers.”
These changes are part of the Government's Safer Journeys strategy, which has already seen the driving age increased to 16, licence tests tightened and a zero blood alcohol limit for drivers under 20 introduced.
The time limits on learner and restricted licences changes will be enacted through a transport rule change, which will include public consultation by the NZ Transport Agency.
The new rule will come into force within two years.
4 comments
Something they should think about
Posted on 10-01-2013 15:32 | By Kitten
Maybe they could look at the time frames it take to go from one license to another or the rules of the restricted license. It's all fine for younger drivers but when you're an adult on a restricted licence the time curfews and passenger rules are a little bit harder to stick to.
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Posted on 10-01-2013 16:01 | By CC8
Its all about money, and the NZTA boffins justifying their existence. These "rule " changes are made by the so called "experts" to suit themselves, without the benefit of parliamentary consideration, and then have to be rescinded and dealt with by legislation years later when all the consequences are felt. E.g the recent reintroduction of the sensible intersection /left turn laws. Some of the ridiculous "rules" made by sox n sandal, cardigan wearers in Wellington need a thorough sort out. I have it on good authority that one of the high profile "rule makers" at NZTA does not, and never has, owned a car....
CC8
Posted on 10-01-2013 18:30 | By Sambo
You da man!!, I would like to pass a law that bans, hi viz vests, kaftans,and what you have listed also, we are clogged down with middle management small minded inane bureaucracy.
@ SAMBO n CC8
Posted on 11-01-2013 09:25 | By TERMITE
I read this saying that sums it all up I think, "Government's view of the public: If it moves, tax it. If it keeps moving, regulate it. And if it stops moving, subsidize it. - Ronald Reagan (1986)"
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