![]() Your child needs to learn from you when out driving, especially on the motorway. Unfortunately, the test in many centres is at a maximum speed of 60kp/h and sometimes 80kp/h (other VTNZ sites are up to 100kp/h). Because of the traffic and road layout, the motorway part of the Wellington city test is around 400 metres long, and that’s it. This is a far better situation than simply getting their Restricted licence and then being legally able to drive on the motorway potentially with no experience at all.Ĭurrently, either test has very little motorway driving included, and most have no open road driving as part of the test. They may be apprehensive about going on the motorway, but here’s the thing they are better off getting their first, early experiences on a motorway with you beside them. This is especially important on the open road and/or motorways. If your child is on a Learner or Restricted licence and you are going anywhere with them, make them drive – every time. While showing confidence in your driving isn’t a legal requirement, your DTO is going to pick up a lack of confidence, and know that you simply haven’t spent enough time behind the wheel before your test. Some drivers learn faster than others, and a driver needs to show confidence as part of their driving test – Restricted or Full. This time period is all subjective, however. The test for full licence also includes a requirement to identify and deal with hazards, but only insofar as they are moving and a potential risk. It is assumed as they have been driving for 18 months or so they will have the necessary skills. Drivers over 25 years 6 months reduced to 3 months if they complete the course). Of course, they can take a defensive driving course, which reduces the 18 months by 6 months before the FLT (for drivers under 25 years. The time before a Restricted Driver can go for their full test is 18 months, so they should have comfortably spent 120 hours behind the wheel in that time. An obvious answer is as many hours as possible, but that’s open to interpretation.Ĭolin suggests that a driver on a Learner’s Licence should spend at least 120 hours behind the wheel, and one moving from a Restricted to a Full licence should have spent about the same amount of time, preferably more, either on their own or with a driver who’s held a full licence for at least two years. ![]() In saying that, there are some guidelines around this. There is no law that says a learner driver must spend a certain amount of hours driving before they can sit their Restricted or Full Licence Test (FLT). Photo credit: VTNZ Passing Your Driving Test in New Zealand: How Many Hours Do I Need To Spend Behind The Wheel? New Zealand could do with a lot safer drivers, whether they are learner or ‘seasoned’ drivers. ![]() So please, share the link to this article as much as you can. We expect there are a lot of parents out there who also could learn a lot from this article. The Driver Testing Officer observes the actions and records the result, plain and simple. DTOs do not fail a driving test candidate, the driver does. Colin says he has had days where only 3 out of 10 people passed their test that’s bad planning on the learner driver’s part and likely poor instruction. It means that a learner or restricted driver should be at a safe level of driving ability, and everyone wins from that. So I’ll have input into this article as well, from that point of view.Ĭontrary to some opinions, DTOs want people to pass the test. As an Observer for IAM Roadsmart, by proxy, I end up taking out my daughter’s friends for driving lessons or to check their progress towards getting their Restricted or Full Driver’s Licence. No one wins in this scenario.ĭriveLife teamed up with Colin, a VTNZ Driver Testing Officer (DTO), to give you the lowdown on what you should do, what you absolutely shouldn’t do, and some tips to teach your kids so they don’t just pass the test, but become safer drivers. Many times, those who fail have been taught by their parents, and so are taught their parents’ bad driving habits. Often it’s “the examiner’s fault”, according to some of those who fail. Too many times we hear of younger drivers failing their Restricted or Full driving test.
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