RoadSmart Driver Training, Quality Driver Training, Porirua City

RoadSmart Driver Training provides the Resources and Links on this page for you to study in preparation for your driver's licence test. There's plenty of preparation work you can do between lessons using the links below.

Resources

Road Code Online

Links to the Official Road Code, and Licence and Study Guide. There's plenty of useful information here. Take your time and have a good look around.

Learner Licence Theory Test

Visit the NZ Transport Agency website for all the general test questions that you might be asked in the theory test, and the specialist questions that you could be asked if you are going for your Class 1 (car driver) learner licence. For further practice, you can also purchase scratch test papers – which are replicas of the actual test papers – from the AA, participating BP stations and bookshops.

Car Drivers Road Code Test

This Online Test offers you the opportunity to learn all you need to be ready for the test - and you are able to check your knowledge by testing it here! Click on the "TEST SHEET" link from the main navigation to start, then click "Check It!" to see your results.

Driving Test Scenarios

FREE theory test questions from the NZ Driving Educators website, covering car, motorcycle, and truck licences. Choose a licence type and answer the questions, then click Score My Answers to see your results.

Road Code for Motorcyclists

The official New Zealand road code for motorcyclists is a user-friendly guide to New Zealand’s traffic law and safe driving practices. You will be tested on this information in your theory and practical driving tests. Read the Motorcycle road code introduction and updates.

Practice

ACC and the NZ Transport Agency have created Practice to give learner drivers and their supervisors (coaches) a structured plan for getting two or more hours driving practice a week. More importantly it gives you, the learner, the tools for developing safe driving habits, and your coach the tools for encouraging you.

Computerised theory tests are now available, and the NZ Transport Agency have launched a new website with practice questions. Visit Road Code Practice. The practice licence tests can help you become familiar with and prepare for the theory test you will need to pass when applying for a learner licence. These tests are conducted on the NZ Transport Agency's computerised theory testing system.

ThinkSafe

The ACC's ThinkSafe Injury Prevention website has a huge range of resources and useful information to help you prepare for driving on New Zealand roads.

Driving Skills Syllabus

A series of 30 lessons with resources and checksheets for your driving coach (supervisor) for your on-road driving practice sessions. Use the driving log to record your hours of practice.

New Legislation

Cellphone Use

Changes have been made to the Land Transport (Road User) Amendment Rule 2009 and the Land Transport Amendment Act 2009. These changes came into effect on 1 November 2009. The following is copied from the NZ Transport Agency website:

Cellphones - The official New Zealand road code, page 133

The following text replaces the information in the Cellphones section:

While you are driving, you cannot create, send, or read a text message on a mobile phone or use a hand-held mobile phone to make, receive or end a phone call. This includes accessing online services in any way.

You can, however, use your mobile phone to make, receive or terminate a telephone call while driving if the phone is secured in a mounting fixed to the vehicle and you manipulate the phone infrequently and briefly.

You can also use a mobile phone while driving to make a 111 or *555 call if it is unsafe or impractical to pull over and stop in a safe place at the side of the road to make the call.

Driver distraction - The official New Zealand road code, page 133

The following text replaces the third bullet point under Driver distractions:

"Talking on a hands free cellphone"

Where can I read more about this?

You can read this and other updates to the Road Code on the New Zealand Transport Agency website.

Proposed road safety and licensing changes

Safer Journeys Strategy

The Government has introduced its Safer Journeys strategy which includes a package of initiatives that will have the greatest impact on the road crash problem.

What is being proposed?

The Safer Journeys strategy will address four areas of high concern:

increasing the safety of young drivers,
reducing alcohol/drug impaired driving,
safer roads and roadsides, and
increasing the safety of motorcycling.

The Strategy will help to improve road safety and reduce the number of deaths and injuries on our roads.

When will the changes occur?

The Minister of Transport plans to put a package before Cabinet in March 2010 focusing on the safety of young drivers. Another package will be taken to Cabinet in April which is aimed at reducing the impact of alcohol on road safety.

Once they gain Cabinet approval, some of these initiatives, such as raising the driving age, could be implemented over the next 12 months.

How will this affect me?

If you are a new driver, you need to be aware of the following changes which may affect your licensing provisions:

The driving age will be raised to 16
The restricted licence test will be more difficult to encourage 120 hours of supervised driving practice
There will be a zero drink-drive limit for drivers under 20
There may be vehicle power restrictions for young drivers
The give way rules for turning traffic are changing
There will be improved motorcycle rider training and licensing including for mopeds and a power-to-weight restriction for novice riders

Where can I read the full strategy?

You can read the full strategy on the SaferJourneys website. It's a 48 page document that describes how the strategy came about, has graphs and statistics showing the reasons why these changes are proposed, and a description of the changes and when they might occur.