The Government's changes to driver's licence test costs have come under scrutiny with a driver educator warning it will result in New Zealand's roads becoming more dangerous.
The Government revealed on Tuesday it's making it cheaper for Kiwis to get their driver's licence through changes to how Waka Kotahi is funded.
"From 1 October 2023 the average driver will save $86 when they successfully move through the graduated driver licencing system," Transport Minister Michael Wood said.
"The average cost of a learner licence will decrease by $20, a restricted licence by $35, and a full licence by $31."
Wood also announced the Government is removing resit fees for practical driver's licence tests, which can be up to $87 per attempt. He said around half of New Zealanders are having to pay these when trying for their licence.
New Zealand Institute of Driver Educators president Peter Elder told AM on Wednesday the changes will make New Zealand's roads more dangerous.
He "applauds" the Government for removing barriers to help Kiwis sit their licence test but feels it could have a negative and dangerous effect.
He believes it removes the incentive for Kiwis to get trained before they sit their test.
"I'm just putting my practical hat on, if I'm wanting to get my license so I can be driving on the roads as soon as possible, if I know that I can just resit, resit at no charge ... why bother going off to get trained? Why spend extra time with community driver licensing programs or community training programs with a driving instructor? Why don't I just go off and retest until I pass a test," Elder told AM co-host Ryan Bridge.
Waka Kotahi said resit fees may discourage people from continuing to move through the licensing system to get a full driver's licence.
It also said the cost of resitting tests causes some drivers to "stop taking tests but continue to drive".
Elder said that's a "good point" but would rather see funding go to the communities to help train drivers instead of incentivising them not to learn.
"I would say again thumbs up to the Government for putting $86 million into driver license training and education and this is going out to those that need it in the community that are delivering the training that's so needed," he said.
"$86 million, it's going to the communities, it's going to the maraes, it's going to those people that might fail the test the first time and can't afford to. So let's support them through the community programs locally rather than incentivising not needing to learn how to drive."
Elder said the most common reason why Kiwis fail their driver's license test is down to parents being used to an old system, which had lower standards.
"It's probably just us moving back from the old system prior to a graduated driver licensing system where parents were used to rocking up, doing a test and the standard was lower than what it is now," he said.
"That mental shift still hasn't changed."
Elder told AM currently people get on average 1.2 lessons before they sit their test, which is far lower than the recommended 120 hours of supervised driving experience with community groups, whānau and family members.
Elder said the most common reason Kiwis fail their driver's license tests is because they're not doing the "basics".
"If you're looking at the actual licensing test itself, it's the basics like speed, give way rules and failing to stop at stop signs."
Watch the full interview with Peter Elder in the video above.
