Trucks are heavy vehicles that carry goods on New Zealand’s roads. If you’re looking for a career in trucking, these are the types of trucks you could be driving. And remember to check out our guide to getting a job…
There is a huge shortage of truck drivers in New Zealand, particularly class 5 drivers, so now is a good time to get into this industry. First you will need a heavy vehicle licence. You can practice the heavy vehicle…
With longer nights you’re more likely to be driving in the dark, and it’s more likely to be colder. These tips will help keep you safe. Keep your windows clean (or your helmet visor), especially if driving west in the…
If you spot someone driving particularly poorly on the road you can dial *555 to report them (note the * before the number). Don’t dial 111 unless it’s an emergency. *555 goes to a police call centre but it will…
Your brain is like a muscle and you can improve certain skills with a bit of practice. To make it easier for you to practice and remember information for your learner licence test your fluid intelligence and crystallised intelligence needs…
What do tow truck drivers and car transporter drivers do? Car transporter drivers (sometimes called car carrier drivers) transport one or more cars on a large truck, usually from a port to a regional or local dealer or distribution centre.…
If you’ve got a modern car which automatically switches the engine off when you are stationary then you’ll know that this is to help you save fuel and to reduce pollution. The systems anticipate when you’ve stopped then restart the engine…
Two wheels aren’t as stable as four when it comes to slippery and challenging surfaces therefore as a motorbike rider you need to be looking out for these hazards. Gravel and loose stones New Zealand has plenty of beautiful roads…
If you get a speeding ticket you’ll have 56 days to pay it from the time it was issued. If you lose it in the first 28 days, don’t worry as you will get a reminder notice with all the…
When it’s hot outside your favourite leisure footwear is likely to be the humble jandal or flip-flop. But is it actually legal to drive a car or truck, or ride a motorbike while wearing them? The law states that you…
At an intersection, set of traffic lights or in a queue of vehicles, how far should you stop behind the car in front? There are two options: Park far enough behind so that you can see the tyres of the…
It’s illegal for vehicles to have a smoky exhaust, and if they emit a stream of smoke or vapour for more than 10 seconds the driver can be fined $150 on-the-spot. This test is subjective by the police officer that views…
Until 2004 speed cameras had to be signposted, but since then police have operated an ‘anytime, anywhere’ policy on the placement of speed cameras. There is a mixture of static and mobile cameras. Static speed cameras Static cameras are on poles.…
If you operate a lifestyle property or farm and you have equipment you or your employees use on the property, there are some driver licence restrictions you need to be aware of so you can ensure the safety and legality…
Traffic jams happen when the density of traffic overcomes one single driver’s comfort in travelling at that speed in that close a proximity to other vehicles. The driver brakes or slows down which causes the vehicle behind to brake, and then…
Brake testing or brake checking is a phrase often heard in motorsport, but can be applied to the road, too. A brake test is when a driver ahead of you deliberately and unnecessarily brakes hard in order to force you to take…
Driving knowledge Almost all rental car agencies will give you some information about driving in New Zealand. There should be a booklet called What’s Different About Driving in New Zealand, and perhaps some ‘keep left’ reminder stickers either on the…
This month I had the opportunity to chat with Yvonne Godfrey about how young people can have the best chance of passing a driving test. She is the founder of MIOMO (Making it on my Own) which is a course…
Demerit points are given for various traffic offences such as: Some alcohol-related infringements and offences (e.g. courts might allocate demerit points if a disqualification is less than 6 months) Having an alcohol reading between 250-400mg/litre of breath, or between 50-80mg/100ml…
21 fatal accidents, 170 injury accidents and 1133 minor accidents in New Zealand in 2013 had driver distraction as a contributing factor. The American Automobile Association published some research on teen driving crashes. Teens don’t have much experience behind the wheel…
