The NZ Licence System

[dotti]

The Licence System:

As the majority of you are from the UK, I thought it would be interesting to write about what it is like to get a licence over here. I know we have a few members from other places, such as Australia and USA, and it would be interesting to know what they had to go through (are going through) to get their licence:

New Zealand has a 3 step graduated licence system. Once you’re over 15 years old you can apply for your learner licence. To be eligible for a learner licence you must pass a basic (I repeat basic) handling test, as well as pass a multi-choice ‘Road Code’ test that shows you understand the road rules.

This licence allows you to ride any motorcycle under 251cc capacity. There is no power restriction, only engine size restriction, so if you want to start on a 250cc two-stroke you can. The other learner licence restrictions are that you cannot ride between 10pm and 5am, cannot take a pillion and cannot ride over 70kpm (45mph approx).

After you have had a learner licence for 6 months or more, you are eligible to sit the ‘Restricted Licence’ test. The restricted licence is exactly the same as the Learner Licence, except you can now ride at normal highway speeds, rather than 70kmh and you no longer need to display an ‘L Plate’ on the back of your bike.

The Restricted Licence test itself is easy to pass, as long as you keep to the speed limit, obey the rules, and can control the bike okay. The test involves riding around a pre-arranged route, with a tester following you (in my case in a car). The test takes about 30 minutes to complete and usually takes place around town, on the 50-70kmh roads (as learners can’t go faster).

After you have had your restricted licence for 6 months (3 if you’re over 25 years old) you are eligible to sit your ‘Full Licence’ examination. As the name indicates, once you have passed this test there are no restrictions as to what size bike you can ride, what time you ride etc. Once you have a Full Licence, the only thing you must do is update your licence every 10 years, get a new photo taken and re-sit an eyesight test.

The full licence test is much harder than the restricted test, lasts for about an hour and takes place on a variety of roads, particular those deemed as high risk roads (through town, on the motorway, past the girls high-school etc ). From the examiners point of view this test is broken down into stages where they grade your ability in different areas. Examiners can take marks off your score at any time during the test if they see you doing something poorly, but they can only add marks to your score if the ability you are demonstrating falls inside the category they are currently assessing (hope this makes sense).

To pass the Full Licence test you need to show a very high level of riding ability, courtesy, and hazard perception. After the test the instructor will question you about what hazards you noticed while you were riding, as well as what actions you took to avoid the chances of them causing you to have to take emergency action. The level of hazard awareness required to pass this test is considerably higher than what is required for everyday riding, and it is normal to have to retake this test, as most people are too busy concentrating on not doing anything wrong to notice what is going on around them in enough detail to pass the test.

The New Zealand licence system makes it possible to gain a full licence in 9 months if you’re over 25, and 12 months if you are younger. It is therefore possible to have sixteen year olds riding around on full licences and big bikes. Not that I have heard of it happening much.
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Dangerous traffic offences spotted on 50-minute trip: Lost count after 100. Number of traffic cops spotted: One, sitting by a speed-trap camera

[dotti]

COSTS:

devide by 3 to get Pounds (approx)

Basic Handling Skills Test* $41.00
Learner licence application fee $39.30
Learner licence test $39.70
Restricted licence application fee $39.30
Restricted licence test $48.90
Full licence application fee $44.30
Full licence test $70.80
Total $323.30

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Dangerous traffic offences spotted on 50-minute trip: Lost count after 100. Number of traffic cops spotted: One, sitting by a speed-trap camera

[MarJay]

They need something like that over here...

Especially the learners not being allowed to ride between 10pm and 5am
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British beauty: Triumph Street Triple R; Loony stroker: KR1S; Track fun: GSXR750 L1; Commuter Missile: GSX-S1000F; Cheap project: CBR900RR FireBlade
Remember kids, bikes aren't like lego. You can't easily take a part from one bike and then fit it to another.

[mchaggis]

The bit that gets me is that they can allow you to get an RS250, then try and force you to ride at 45 mph for six months. Something tells me that's not going to work, especially if they've not got any L-plates.
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I must not be a troll...
Mmmm, Guinness
Discovering the delights of Hammerite and a 3/4" brush.

[Davo]

I'd be interested to see what motorcycle accident statistics are like over there. It does seem a better system.

[JonB]

I'd be interested to see the price of insurance for a 15 year old on an RS250.
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Be careful whose advice you buy, but, be patient with those who supply it. Advice is a form of nostalgia, dispensing it is a way of fishing the past from the disposal, wiping it off, painting over the ugly parts and recycling it for more than it?s worth.

[dotti]

[mchaggis]

[JonB]

WTF!!!!! No way, that takes the piss! I'm paying £162 TPO (lowest insurance) for a 50cc moped at 16! Makes my blood boil!
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Be careful whose advice you buy, but, be patient with those who supply it. Advice is a form of nostalgia, dispensing it is a way of fishing the past from the disposal, wiping it off, painting over the ugly parts and recycling it for more than it?s worth.

[Keith]