Drive Well NZ LTD

🚗 Big Changes Coming to NZ’s Driver Licensing System – from 25th January 2027! 🚦

The Graduated Driver Licensing System is getting a major upgrade to make things simpler, cheaper, and safer for everyone. Here’s what you need to know 👇

✅ No More Full Licence Test – You’ll automatically graduate from restricted to full if you keep a clean record (no demerit points).

⏳ Longer Learner Period (Under 25s) – Default period increases from 6 to 12 months, but you can shorten it back to 6 months by logging supervised hours or completing an approved course.

🕒 Restricted Period Changes – Under 25s: now 12 months (down from 18).
25 and over: still 6 months, but no course-based reductions.

🚫 Demerit Penalties – Get demerits on your restricted licence and your restricted period extends by 6 months.

🍃 Zero-Alcohol Limit – Applies to all learner and restricted drivers, no matter your age.

👁️ Eyesight Checks Streamlined – Only needed at your first licence and when you renew, not at every stage.

💰 Cheaper Costs – Getting your Class 1 (car) licence will be \$80 cheaper overall. The new full licence fee: \$25.90.

📅 Effective from 25 January 2027.
If you’re planning to start driving lessons soon, these updates could change your path to getting fully licensed — stay informed and drive smarter! 🚘

🥶 WINTER 🥶

Winter driving requires extra caution due to reduced visibility, icy or snowy road conditions, and the increased risk of skidding. To stay safe, drivers should slow down, increase following distances, avoid sudden braking or sharp turns, and be aware of black ice and other hazards. Additionally, ensuring your vehicle is properly prepared for winter conditions, including checking tires, lights, and brakes, is crucial.

Here's a more detailed breakdown:

1. Adjust your driving:

-Reduce speed: Drive slower than the posted speed limit, especially on icy or snowy roads, to allow for longer stopping distances.

-Increase following distance: Maintain a greater distance between your vehicle and the one in front of you to allow for more reaction time.

-Avoid sudden braking or turning: These actions can cause skidding, so brake gently and smoothly, and turn gradually.

-Be aware of shady areas: Ice can form faster and linger in shaded areas of the road.

-Watch for black ice: It can be difficult to spot but is extremely slippery.

2. Vehicle Preparation:

-Check tires: Ensure proper tread depth for good grip and consider winter tires if driving in snowy or icy conditions.

-Check lights: Make sure all lights are working correctly and are adjusted properly.

-Check brakes: Ensure brakes are in good working order.
Pack emergency supplies: Include warm clothing, blankets, food, water, a first-aid kit, and a flashlight.

3. Visibility:

-Use headlights: Turn on headlights, even during the day, to increase visibility.

-Avoid high beams in fog: High beams can reflect light back and reduce visibility.

-Keep windshield clean: Ensure your windshield is clean inside and out to minimize glare.

🎄 It’s beginning to feel a lot like Christmas!

With that in mind, this means traffic volumes will increase and therefore we all have to be mindful of the following distance rule to keep ourselves safe this holiday season.

🚨 In case you’ve forgotten here are following distances you should be using 🙂

Please take care this long weekend🚗🚕🚙

Remember to:
- Drive to the conditions
- Maintain the correct following distances
- Drive drug and alcohol free
- Drive cell-phone free 📵
- Take your time and plan ahead
- Do your job and JUST drive, get from A to B as safely as possible!

If you need driving lessons or advice flick me a message.

Regards

Ash

‼36 DEAD in 31 Days on our Roads‼

This is truly heartbreaking for all the families involved.

Initially, this morning, when creating this post it was 34!

Like myself, you may have a number of questions such as;

1) What are the causes?
2) What can we do to prevent/ minimize the risks?

A large majority of the crashes are driver induced, i.e the driver's fault. What I mean by this is that some drivers are;

📞 1) DISTRACTED - Your only focus should be on DRIVING, so put down your phone, food or drink.

🍺 2) INTOXICATED - Under the influence of DRUGS and/or ALCOHOL.

PREVENTION
To help prevent and/or minimize the risk of being in a crash is something everyone can do.

- Focus on your main objective, getting from A to B UNDISTRACTED. There is only one thing you should be doing while driving, and it is DRIVING 🚗!!

- DONT DRINK and/ or TAKE DRUGS and DRIVE

- Engage in professional driving lessons from a qualified driving instructor.
*Improve your driving awareness and skills
*Learn the fundamentals of vehicle control and the core principles of driving
*Become a more rounded and confident driver
*Learn how to identify potential risks and how to mitigate them

Vehicles and the Roads are seldom to blame for crashes, it is the person on the road and in the vehicle who are responsible for everyone's safety!

We have a long way to go to our Road To Zero goal, but collectively we can help reduce and minimize the number of road deaths by Driving Distraction Free and Driving Drug and Alcohol Free.

https://www.nzta.govt.nz/planning-and-investment/planning-and-investment-knowledge-base/202124-nltp/2021-24-nltp-activity-classes-and-work-categories/road-to-zero/

Happy New Year everyone!

10 Days into the New Year and 10 fatalities on our roads already!

Please remember to drive;
- To the conditions
- Free from Distractions
- Free from drugs and alcohol

Driving is important in all our lives so lets get the basics right!

January has already booked out for me, I am booking in lessons for February and March!

If you are looking for lessons, or know someone that needs some, please send me an email or flick me a text!

Stay safe out there!

Almost School Holidays!!

Why not use that time to learn how to drive??

Why Driving Lessons??
- Practical
- Beneficial
- Important
- Life skill that needs to be taught the right-way

Flick me a text/ email/ or message me on FB!

Buckle Up! It's as simple as that!

A study conducted by the AA back in 2016 found that up to 30% of road fatalities were caused by drivers and passengers not wearing a seatbelt.

326 people lost their lives that year!

❌Up to 30% or 97 Humans, brothers, sisters, fathers, mothers could have lived if they were wearing seatbelts!!

My goal is not only to teach you how to drive but educate you on the why the fundamentals are so important!

Please flick me a message if you need Lessons!

🎁🎁 Stuck for present ideas for your teenager? 🎁🎁

Why not gift them Driving Lessons??
- Practical ✔️
- Useful ✔️
- Unique ✔️
- Beneficial✔️
- Important ✔️

Flick me a text/ email/ or message me on FB!

Regards,

Ashleigh

🚨The Road Toll is at 81 deaths to date. We are only in April!!!

Please take care this long weekend🚗🚕🚙

Remember to:
- Drive to the conditions
- Maintain the correct following distances
- Drive drug and alcohol free
- Drive cell-phone free 📵
- Take your time and plan ahead
- Do your job and JUST drive, get from A to B as safely as possible!

If you need driving lessons or advice flick me a message.

Regards

Ash