Covid-19: VTNZ to require proof of vaccination from learner drivers before practical test

Wednesday, 1 December 2021

New Zealand’s shift to the Covid-19 traffic light system later this week could put the brakes on the summer plans of unvaccinated learner drivers.

VTNZ, New Zealand’s largest driver licensing tester, is preparing for a surge in demand when the country moves to the new system on Friday.

On Wednesday, VTNZ country manager Greg O’Connor said about 22,000 practical driving tests were postponed due to Auckland’s four-month lockdown but the company was now ready to receive bookings.

Practical driving tests are available at all levels of the traffic light system.

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However, due to the length of a test and their proximity to their assessor, learner drivers would have to present a valid vaccine pass before getting behind the wheel.

If drivers are joined by a support person, they must also show a vaccine pass.

“Our message to customers is make sure you’ve got your vaccine pass ready and ensure you book early. It’s going to be a very busy summer,” O’Connor said.

Wendy Robertson, national coordinator of Driving Change Network, told RNZ the practical driving test should be deemed an essential service.

“We know through the Driving Change Network that a driver's licence is essential to gaining not only employment, but also being able to access further education and everyday life.

“Particularly for those people living rurally, where they don't have access to public transport. To take the ability to gain a driver's licence off them is going to be a huge blow.”

The network Robertson works for represents members who are mostly community organisations that deliver driving licence programmes, to help people get their licence.

She estimated the vaccine requirement would impact hundreds of young people and those in the lowest vaccinated areas would be adversely affected.

Many had booked to sit their tests during the level 4 lockdown and were rescheduled after Auckland moved back to level 2 in September.

“So when they booked, a vaccination certificate wasn't even on the table. To have waited for two to three months for their test to come up and to now find out that they can't do the test until they're double-vaxxed, and that they'll need to reschedule again, is going to be a real blow to them.”

VTNZ and Waka Kotahi New Zealand Land Transport Authority followed Ministry of Health guidelines to develop procedures for testing under each of the new traffic light levels, he said.

“We will continue to explore procedures that could allow customers who are not fully vaccinated to access these services in the future.”

Waka Kotahi director of land transport Kane Patena asked new drivers to be patient while the extra demand for testing was worked through.

“We know how important it is for people to get a driver’s licence and we will be working with VTNZ to clear the backlog created by the lockdown, but it will take some time.

VTNZ would provide additional testing locations and driver testing officers to help ease the pressure, he said.