Graduated Driver Licensing System

Waimarino Bulletin, Volume 5, Issue 11, 11 August 1987, Page 4 (Supplement)

Graduated Driver Licensing System

FROM this month onwards New Zealand will have a new driver licensing system. Obtaining a driver's licence will now be a three stage procedure and to begin applicants must be at least 1 5-years-old. Even before learning to drive on the road applicants must pass an eyesight test and a written and oral theory test (sometimes a medical certificate will be necessary also). So they must know all the road rules before they even get into the driver's seat. When applicants successfully pass these tests, they are granted a learner's licence. This begins the first stage of getting a licence. Stage One Learner's Licence During the period that applicants are learning to drive they must be accompanied in the car by an adult supervisor. An adult supervisor is a person of at least 20 years of age and who has held a full car licence for at least two years. This person must be seated next to the learner and is in full charge of the vehicle. Other rules that must be followed while applicants are learning to drive on a Learner's Licence are: ★ They must not drink any alcohol and drive. (In practice this means that their blood alcohol limit is 30 milligrams per 100 millilitres of blood.) ★ They must carry their Learner's Licence at all times, and produce it if asked forby anenforcement officer. The Learner Licence stage will last for at least six months unless the learner goes to an approved driving

school, then the first stage can be reduced by up to three months. Even if the applicants are sure they are ready to sit the next stage of the test, they must remain in Stage One for at least three months before they can sit the practical test. After successfully passing a practical driving test applicants aged between 1524 years of age will be issued with a Restricted Licence. Until it arrives in the mail, they are still subject to the conditions of the Learner Licence. This begins Stage Two. Stage Two Restricted Licence Once applicants are granted a Restricted Licence certain rules apply to their driving. These rules are as follows: ★ The licence must be carried at all times and produced when asked for by an enforcement officer. ★ They should not drive at night. Driving is prohibited

between the hours of 10.00pm and 5.00am unless the driver is supervised by an adult driver. An adult driver is classified as a driver over 20 years of age who has held a full car licence for at least two years. ★ No passengers may be carried without supervision of an adult driver. (There is an exception for relatives who are direct dependents of the Restricted Driver.) ★ They must not drive after drinking any alcohol. (In practice this is a blood alcohol level not exceeding 30 milligrams per 100 millilitres of blood.) ★ Drivers will normally hold a Restricted Licence for 18 months. This can be reduced by up to nine months if an approved course of" advanced driving tuition or a Defensive Driving Course is taken. Stage Three Full Driver's Licence At the end of Stage Two a Full Licence can be applied

for. On application to the licensing office, the driver will be sent a Full Driver's Licence in the post. Until it arrives the driver is still subject to conditions imposed on a Restricted Licence. This completes the licensing process. For Car Driver Licence Applicants Over 25 Years of Age Learners over the age of 25 still need to get a Learner Licence and are subject to the same conditions, except they can sit the practical road test whenever they are ready. If they pass they will be issued with a Full Licence (in other words they by-pass the Restricted Licence). Breaking the Conditions If any driver on a Learner or Restricted Licence breaks any of the conditions set down in the licensing process, their licence restriction period may be extended for up to six months for every condition they break.