Restricted Licence Test - NZ Transport Agency | NZ Transport Agency

47 Pages·2014·0.77 MB·English

Restricted Licence Test
guide (class 1)
© Roads Corporation (VicRoads) 2008
September 2012
ISBN 978-0-478-39405-4 (online)
ISBN 978-0-478-39406-1 (print)
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The NZ Transport Agency has endeavoured to
ensure material in this document is technically
accurate and reflects legal requirements.
However, the document does not override
governing legislation. The NZ Transport Agency
does not accept liability for any consequences
arising from the use of this document. If the user
of this document is unsure whether the material
is correct, they should refer directly to the
relevant legislation and contact the NZ Transport
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More information
NZ Transport Agency
Version 2 (June 2014)
Originally published February 2012
ISBN 978-0-478-39405-4 (online)
ISBN 978-0-478-39406-1 (print)
If you have further queries, call our contact
centre on 0800 699 000 or write to us:
NZ Transport Agency
Private Bag 6995
Wellington 6141
This document is available on the NZ Transport
Agency’s website at www.nzta.govt.nz.
Page ii
Contents

1 Introduction to the Restricted Licence Test 1
2 Overview of the structure of the Restricted Licence Test 3
3 Pre-drive checks 5
4 Assessable tasks 7
5 Task assessment items 14
6 Critical errors 26
7 Immediate failure errors 33
8 Glossary 43

Restricted Licence Test guide (class 1) Version 2 June 2014
Page 1
1 Introduction to the

Restricted Licence Test
Introduction
This booklet provides detailed information about the new Restricted Licence Test (RLT or the
test) that came into effect on 27 February 2012. It will help professional driving instructors
and coaches work with learner drivers as they approach the new RLT, but it should not take
the place of a well-structured and comprehensive lesson plan, together with high levels of
supervised driving experience in a broad range of driving situations.
In preparing for the test, the Transport Agency recommends that all novice drivers and their
coaches become familiar with this test guide, the Road Code and the Practice programme
(www.practice.co.nz). These resources contain all the necessary information to enable novice
drivers to practice the necessary skills to become safe drivers and subsequently be ready to
sit the test. Being a safe driver is the first goal and test readiness is the second.
The graduated driver licensing system
The graduated driver licensing system in New Zealand consists of three stages:
• learner licence (supervised driving only)
• restricted licence (unsupervised or solo driving with restrictions)
• full licence (no restrictions).
At each stage, drivers must pass a test (theory test for learners, practical tests for restricted
and full) before they earn a new licence with fewer restrictions and more responsibilities.
The new Restricted Licence Test
In 2010 the New Zealand Government announced a package of reforms focused on young
drivers, including making the RLT more difficult to encourage 120 hours of supervised driving
practice.
The new RLT is based on the Victorian Government probationary licence test and calibrated
for New Zealand driving environments.
The new RLT was developed to assess the higher skill levels expected of today’s more
experienced licence applicants. With a 45 minute drive time, it is longer than the previous
test, which allows a more comprehensive assessment of the applicant’s safe driving skills. An
applicant is more likely to have the necessary skills to pass the test if they have had at least
120 hours of supervised driving experience.
Test routes
The test is undertaken on test routes that have been developed according to a set of
standard requirements. This ensures that all test routes used are of a nationally consistent
standard.
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Page 2
The role of the testing officer
A testing officer undertakes many tasks during the test including directing the applicant
around the route, observing and marking driving behaviour and keeping an eye on safety.
Because of this, it is unlikely that the testing officer will have time to engage in conversation
with the applicant. Ensure the applicant is aware of this, is prepared for it and is not
offended by it.
Restricted Licence Test guide (class 1) Version 2 June 2014
Page 3
2 Overview of the structure of the

Restricted Licence Test
Test duration
The test takes a total of one hour to administer. This time allows for:
• meeting the applicant
• conducting the pre-drive vehicle safety check
• conducting a 45 minute practical drive
• adding up the test score sheet at the end of each stage
• providing feedback to the applicant on their performance at the end of the test.
Test route stages
The test comprises two stages.
• Stage 1 of the test takes 10 minutes and is a set of relatively simple driving tasks
conducted in a less complex traffic environment designed to assess the applicant’s
driving ability. This stage is conducted in speed zones of up to 60km/h and determines
whether the applicant is a sufficiently skilled and safe driver to proceed to the more
challenging driving tasks and environments of Stage 2 of the test.
An applicant who does not achieve a satisfactory score in Stage 1 is not permitted to
undertake Stage 2 of the test. In this way, applicants who are not ready to tackle the
more challenging tasks in Stage 2 are screened out before they can pose a danger to
themselves and other road users.
• Stage 2 of the test takes 35 minutes and is designed to assess the applicant’s ability to
perform more challenging tasks in moderately challenging environments within speed
zones of 60km/h and over.
To pass the RLT, an applicant must demonstrate safe decision-making, observance of road
rules and satisfactory car-handling skills throughout the whole test.
Stages 1 and 2 of the RLT must be undertaken during a single test booking. They cannot be
split into separate appointments.
Driving tasks
There are two types of driving tasks in the RLT:
• Assessable tasks include left and right turns, lane changes (or turning right across
traffic where lane changes are not available), merging with other traffic, straight drives,
straight or right at a roundabout and a reverse parallel park. The applicant’s performance
on each assessable task is assessed according to predetermined task assessment items.
• Linking manoeuvres join up the assessable tasks into a complete driving route that
begins and ends at the car park of the testing office or other suitable location for the
start. Linking manoeuvres include similar driving manoeuvres to the assessable tasks but
do not have associated task assessment items assigned to them.
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Page 4
There are seven assessable tasks in Stage 1 and 18 assessable tasks in Stage 2.
The Assessable Tasks used in the RLT are described in section 4.
Assessment items
During the test the applicant will be assessed against three different assessment criteria:
1. Task assessment items which assess one aspect of driving performance during the
execution of each assessable task.
The task assessment items are described in section 5.
2. Critical errors which are recorded at any time they occur during the RLT, whether
during an assessable task or not.
The critical error types are described in section 6.
3. Immediate failure errors are also recorded at any time they occur and result in the
immediate failure of the test.
The immediate failure error types are described in section 7.
Note that this guide does not cover the number of driving faults that are permitted during
the test as the pre-test preparation should not be focused around how many driving faults
may be made during the test, but rather whether the novice driver has the necessary skills
to be a safe driver (ie, they can consistently perform the driving tasks to the required
standard).
If the novice driver is making any critical errors or immediate failure errors in training then
they are clearly not yet ready to attempt this test.

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Page 5
Pre-drive checks
Overview
Before beginning the RLT, the testing officer will:
• check the candidate’s identity
• conduct a pre-drive safety check
• conduct an in-vehicle safety check.
Documentation
Prior to commencing the test the testing officer will:
• sight the applicant’s learner licence to ensure it is current and to confirm their identity
• check the vehicle to be used in the test for:
– a current warrant of fitness or certificate of fitness label
– two learner licence plates (L plates) displayed correctly
– a current vehicle licence (registration) label
– a current road user charges (RUC) label if it is a diesel vehicle
– sufficient fuel to complete the test.
If any of these requirements cannot be met, the test will be cancelled.
Vehicle roadworthiness and controls
The vehicle to be used for the test must comply with the legal provisions that govern its use
on the road. While testing officers do not examine the vehicle in detail, they will check the
items listed below to ensure that all safety items are in a roadworthy state. Applicants will be
requested to assist with the pre-drive check.
If the vehicle is not roadworthy, the test will not proceed.
Vehicle posture The vehicle is sitting square to the road, indicating all tyres have
(car only) equal or close to equal pressure.
Body work The vehicle has no obvious damage that could be considered
dangerous.
Tyres and wheels Tyres should have the required tread depth and no uneven wear, and
wheels should appear undamaged (visual inspection only). Winter
and summer tyres are not mixed.
The test cannot proceed if a space-saver tyre is fitted to the vehicle.
Indicators and Indicators and brake lights (to meet equipment requirements)
brake lights operate correctly and all lenses are intact.
Head lights Lenses must be intact and high and low beams operate if the test is
to take place in low light conditions.
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Page 6
Windscreen wipers Wipers must operate satisfactorily if the test is to take place in rain
or fog.
Horn The horn must operate.
Driver/rider safety Mirrors are checked for position and seatbelts are in safe and
serviceable condition.
In-vehicle safety checks
The testing officer will check the applicant is able to identify where the following controls are
located in the vehicle:
• handbrake
• windscreen demister
• rear window demister (where fitted).
If the applicant is unable to identify the items above they will be pointed out to them and the
applicant will still be able to undertake the test. However if it becomes necessary to use one
of the controls during the test and the applicant requires assistance to operate the control,
an immediate failure error would result.
The pre-drive safety check and in-vehicle check do not contribute to the applicant’s test
score.
Restricted Licence Test guide (class 1) Version 2 June 2014