Yay Me!!!

[Monty_Burns]

Just turned 15, so after a week with the road code book (the Oxford Dictionary a better/more interesting read), I paid a visit to the AA for my learners licence, and aced the test.

Unfortunately, both my parent's cars are auto, and neither of them have a hell of a lot of money right now, so I'm going to get a job at McDonalds or something, and save up to get a manual for myself (hopefully for less than $5K)

In the meantime, I'm going to continue what I've been doing for the last couple of days and take my dad's Honda out for a spin on some quiet roads.

[The_Canuck]

Just turned 15, so after a week with the road code book (the Oxford Dictionary a better/more interesting read), I paid a visit to the AA for my learners licence, and aced the test.

Unfortunately, both my parent's cars are auto, and neither of them have a hell of a lot of money right now, so I'm going to get a job at McDonalds or something, and save up to get a manual for myself (hopefully for less than $5K)

In the meantime, I'm going to continue what I've been doing for the last couple of days and take my dad's Honda out for a spin on some quiet roads.

You have to be 16 here
Congrats though!

[adrenaline]

15??! Wow New Zealanders start early. Is it two years for learning or just one?

[acemotorsport]

i thought nz people started around 13/14 ish

[Monty_Burns]

15??! Wow New Zealanders start early. Is it two years for learning or just one?

Here's a quick rundown on our system:

You can get a Learners Licence at age 15, by getting at least 32 out of 35 in a theory test. While on a Learners, you have to be accompanied at all times by a fully-licenced driver, and you can't drive at night.

After 6 months on a Learners Licence, you have to pass a Practical Test to get a Restricted Licence. You can drive alone, but not at night.

Then after 18 months on the Restricted, you have to pass another practical for the Full Licence. So all-up, its 2 years.

[2ndclasscitizen]

So you've got a full licence at 17?! Bloody hell, you have be 20 here!

[pAinTrAin]

You have to be 16 here
Congrats though!

Its 14 or 15 in Alberta

[adrenaline]

So you've got a full licence at 17?! Bloody hell, you have be 20 here!

You would think their government would raise the bar in terms of learning. Either that or New Zealanders are safe drivers.

Australia accepts licences from other nations with similiar systems. How are they supposed to accept a 17 YO with a full licence when our system only allows Ps at 17.

15 YOs driving alone sounds scary.

[clutch-monkey]

Either that or New Zealanders are safe drivers.

heh, no. not by a long shot.

[h00t_h00t]

Here's a quick rundown on our system:

You can get a Learners Licence at age 15, by getting at least 32 out of 35 in a theory test. While on a Learners, you have to be accompanied at all times by a fully-licenced driver, and you can't drive at night.

After 6 months on a Learners Licence, you have to pass a Practical Test to get a Restricted Licence. You can drive alone, but not at night.

Then after 18 months on the Restricted, you have to pass another practical for the Full Licence. So all-up, its 2 years.

Thats crazy, are the tests hard?

[Monty_Burns]

I've only done the first one, which is just multiple-choice theory - basic stuff like "how does alcohol affect your driving??". A few times through the road code is enough to pass this. You're allowed to get 3 questions wrong out of the 35.

Unfortunately for a couple of Asian girls who did the test with me, they applied without knowing there was a test, and failed it - so another $80 each, which bites.

The next two tests are practicals - I think it's about half an hour on various roads with a tester, who evaluates your driving.

I just discovered that you can actually shorten the restricted phase by six months if you do an "approved course" - I think that means a defensive driving course or something like that.

[my porsche]

So you've got a full licence at 17?! Bloody hell, you have be 20 here!

That BLOWS! Just 16 here...

[2ndclasscitizen]

That BLOWS! Just 16 here...

Eh, I doesn't really matter that much I spose, you can drive on your own from 17

[my porsche]

I thought you just said it was 20?

[clutch-monkey]

don't be stupid. you just get an extra 8 points once you're 20.