‘Not keeping them safe’: Driving instructor disappointed by proposed licence changes
Tuesday, 15 April 2025
Removing a practical test to make getting a driver licence more efficient would be a mistake, a driving instructor says - but those keen to get behind the wheel back the idea.
Transport Minister Chris Bishop on Sunday unveiled a proposal to remove the practical full licence driving test, reduce the number of eye tests required from three to one, and halve the demerit threshold for learner and restricted drivers, meaning they can have their licence suspended if they reach 50 demerit points..
The changes are designed to reduce financial barriers to getting a licence to boost access to jobs, education, and healthcare, and encourage safer driving, he said.
But Kevin Bargent, owner and instructor at Christchurch’s Safer Driving Driving School, said it was “disappointing” the robust testing system could be weakened.
The second practical test was designed to ensure drivers have not lost any skills since sitting their restricted test, he said, and to reinforce the need to watch for hazards.
“You’ve got to reach our standard. There’s no easy way to get your licence, and there shouldn’t be an easy way to get your licence, and by lowering the bar it’s not making [learner drivers] any safer. It’s not keeping them safe, it’s not keeping anyone else safe.”
Bargent, who has taught driving for about a decade, was not concerned about the changes around eye testing or demerits, but said practical tests were essential for new drivers - and experienced ones, too.
“The way I see people driving on the road it wouldn’t be a bad thing if they had a full licence test every 10 years.
“They’re not aware of the law changes or the way things have changed over time.”
At VTNZ in Christchurch on Monday several drivers were attempting to get their full licence.
Arron Irvine, 52, was waiting to sit his motorcycle licence. He sat his car licence in Australia, which only has one physical driving test, but logs practice time in various driving conditions.
“If you’ve already done a practical examination and you’ve been driving on your restricted for 12 or 18 months without incident then I don’t really see what the necessity is to for another practical examination.”
Keith Murray, whose 21-year-old son was completing his first attempt, was in favour of removing the second practical test due to the financial strain of the $98.90 cost.
“I got my learners straight away, but didn’t get my restricted until I was 25, so I waited 10 years because I didn’t want to have to pay,” Murray said.
“The financial side of it probably deters a lot of people from doing the right thing.”
Drivers pay a minimum of $362.50 on the two-year journey to their full licence if they pass every test in the shortest time possible. If the second practical test was to be cut they would pay $263.70.
Murray said his son went into the test confident but with the knowledge that if he failed, the pointers he received would help him with his second attempt, which is free as per the licence rules.
His son failed after driving 40kph in a 30kph area, not indicating out of a roundabout, and not checking his mirrors when parallel parking.
Next in line was Hank Jiang, 22. It was his fourth attempt. From the third attempt restricted drivers pay $71.90 for each test to try to get their full licence.
He said extra attempts were expensive, so cutting the second practical test would be helpful.
“It’s a good idea because that will save so much time and money.”
But Kirwee Volunteer Fire Brigade acting station officer Stu Beggs was not in favour of changing the rules.
Beggs, a firefighter of more than three decades, said reducing demerits was a good idea, but not taking away the second practical tent.
“If there’s a backlog, do something about it. Don’t compromise safety.”
Public consultation on the changes closes on June 9.