New research showing drivers in New Zealand answered fewer than 70% of road rules questions correctly has prompted the AA to call for optional knowledge refreshers when licenses are renewed.
The AA Research Foundation’s ‘Driver Knowledge Over Time’ study of 535 licensed New Zealand drivers asked them 24 questions about road rules and driving behavior. The average score was 16.3, or 68% highlighting a concerning gap in driver knowledge.
The research found driver experience made little difference. People who had been driving for more than four decades scored no better or worse than those who had held a license for only a year.
Dylan Thomsen, AA Research and Road Safety Manager, said the findings highlighted an opportunity to boost driver knowledge and road safety with an optional online road rules refresher course when people renew their license every 10 years.
“Every day there are incidents that cause near-misses or minor crashes because road users misunderstand each other or someone didn’t know the rules,” he said.
“Currently license renewal is an administrative process with a new photo, updating details and so on. The next Government can do something far more useful for drivers and road safety at this time, by giving people the option to do an online refresher module in return for a lower renewal fee.
“Let’s reward drivers for doing the right thing.”
Common areas of confusion included indicating at roundabouts, driving around bus lanes and sharing the road with cyclists.
The results of the research can be viewed on the AA website.
