Chris Bishop: Transport Minister on the Government's changes to the drivers license system

Changes are coming to our drivers licensing system, with only one practical test in a bid to have more Kiwis on full licenses. 

Transport minister Chris Bishop tells Mike Hosking a lot of people 'don't bother' graduating from a restricted to full license. 

"There are a lot of people out there right now breaking the law, just driving on the restricted," he said. 

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Episode Transcript

Speaker 1 (00:00):
So change coming to the way we get behind the wheel,
only one practical test instead of two. Restricted drivers with
defensive driving and the clean record will gain their full
license up to twelve months. The Transport Minister Chris Buship,
good morning, good morning. Now the numbers I found interesting
that don't have licenses. Do we know why people don't
have their full license?

Speaker 2 (00:17):
We don't know exactly. I mean anecdotally certainly people I
talk to going from your restricted to your full sitting
in that second test, if you already know how to drive,
it's really stressful. It's not expensive, by the way, it's
one hundred bucks. You've got to take time off school
or work or whatever you're doing. You've got to go
bock it. You've got to find a time that suits everybody.

(00:39):
A lot of people just don't bother graduating from their
restricted to their full So there are a lot of
people out there right now breaking the law, just driving
on they're restricted. That's not good. You also want young
people in particularly to graduate through the system properly, and
so we're bringing his Zeal into line with other countries.
Most countries don't have a second practical test. Australia doesn't

(00:59):
for example, just graduate automatically through the system.

Speaker 1 (01:01):
That's three hundred and sixty two dollars you talk about
for the cost. Do we know if that's inhibitive and
or is it a ripoff?

Speaker 2 (01:10):
Yeah, certainly anecdotally it is a It is an inhibitor
for people from sitting there second practical for example. It's
partly while we're doing the consultation is to find out
a bit more about that. You know that the system
hasn't been reviewed since twenty eleven. Last time it was
done was back in twenty ten Stephen Joyce put the
age up from fifteen to sixteen for your luner license.

(01:30):
But we basically haven't looked at the system since then.
So this is this is about keeping up to date
with what's happening and bringing the law into line with
reality to some extent.

Speaker 1 (01:37):
Okay, the demeritive fifty instead of one hundred, is that
real or theory? In other words, does it make any
difference at all the people's driving habits or ability.

Speaker 2 (01:45):
It's a quid pro quo for getting rid of the
second practical test for people getting their full license. It's
designed to send a really clear message that you shouldn't
be having any traffic infringements, you know, if you're on
your learner or you're restricted. And so it's designed to
send the message and make it really clear that we
want you to have full compliance with the law. Learn
how to drive properly, don't drink and drive, don't have

(02:08):
traffic traffic infringements, and you know once you've once you've
done that, you're good to go.

Speaker 1 (02:13):
Now, the nj TA is going to look at introducing
a hazard perception test. What does that mean?

Speaker 2 (02:19):
So when you do your full license, one of the
things that they test you on and your second practical
is hazards. And so if you obviously by getting rid
of the second test, the practical test, that would get
you essentially put potentially fall out of the system. And
so it's about basically about transferring that into your first
practical test to make sure you're taken to a cat

(02:39):
Your hazards is that you know how I mean, you
probably don't know, Mike, because you've still got your license,
but you know, and you go with your instructor out
and they say, now point out all the hazards on
the road. And you've got your cyclist and your school
curtain and part car and the guy reversing that way,
and you know all that sort of stuff. Is that
that's what it is. It's hazard perception really important.

Speaker 1 (02:57):
All right, go well and appreciate it. Oh, by the way,
what's the it's the timeframe and all.

Speaker 2 (03:00):
This we're consulting now. We want to make decisions by
the end of the year, but it won't take a
feat until next year. We've got to we've got to
get the details right on the stuff. It's too important
not to.

Speaker 1 (03:09):
Okay, appreciate time. Christmas Transport Minister with us this morning.
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