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Approved driving skills courses

Updated: 3 May 2012

Approved driving skills programmes are designed to help you identify and avoid or handle potential hazards that you may encounter when driving. They teach skills that can help reduce the likelihood of you being involved in a crash.

Passing an approved driving course can:

  • reduce the minimum age at which you can get a full car or motorcycle licence from 18 years to 17½ years, and
  • reduce the time you need to stay on a restricted licence – by three to six months, depending on your age.

Defensive Driving Course

The New Zealand Defensive Driving Course teaches practical skills that will help you steer clear of a car crash. Passing this course will allow you to move from your restricted to a full driver licence sooner. Find out more (external link).

Street Talk

The Street Talk course teaches you driving safety skills. It’s a fun and interactive programme that aims to help you to better understand and cope with risks when you're driving and improve your driving.

Specifically the course helps you develop:

  • advanced driving skills
  • better control
  • the ability to make the right decisions
  • the ability to manage risk
  • an insight into the full licence test.

While Street Talk is best suited to drivers up to 25 years of age, drivers of all ages will find it interesting and challenging.

As well as reducing your time on a restricted licence, by successfully completing the course you also have the option of gaining a NZQA qualification.

Contact these course providers for more information:

New Zealand Institute of Driver Educators (NZIDE)
0800 STREET TALK
0800 787338
www.drivinginstructor.co.nz

Manukau Urban Maori Authority (MUMA) (Auckland region only)
0800 WAATEA
0800 922 832
www.muma.org.nz
After hours: 0274 922 555

Passrite Driving Academy
Contact: Mark Chapman
0800 PASSRITE
0800 727774
09 636 0111
mark@passrite.co.nz

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