How to park
Our ability to park is gradually being dumbed down by new technology that is appearing on cars even at the budget end of the price range. Sensors in the bumpers, both front and rear, warn of hidden obstacles either with…
Advice Resources
Are reversing cameras any good?
The history of reversing sensors and reversing cameras Reversing cameras and reversing sensors have been conceptualised on vehicles since before 1950. The first sensors were simple kerb sensors which gradually grew in sophistication through to the 1980s. These consisted of…
Driving on rural roads in New Zealand
New Zealand’s land mass is primarily rural and therefore all drivers will, at some point, drive through the countryside. For new drivers and drivers visiting NZ, this article explains all of the hazards and situations you will occur driving around…
Driving in low visibility situations
Wherever you are in the world, you will occasionally be driving with limited visibility. A little preparation and being aware of the dangers can keep you safe in these circumstances. They will happen in both day and night, good weather…
Road maintenance and driving around roadworks
The technology used in sealed roads has not improved enough to cope with the volumes and weight of traffic that we subject it to therefore road maintenance is an ongoing chore. When driving around roadworks, speed limits may apply –…
Christmas shopping driving tips
Christmas is supposed to be a time of joy, but that joy is not found in the car parks of shopping malls up and down the country in the couple of weeks before Christmas. It’s a bit of a lottery…
Memory tricks to help you learn the Road Code
Why do people profess to have such a poor memory? Is a good memory something that is genetic or something that you can develop over time, even if you can’t usually remember what you ate for dinner yesterday? Do some…
Learning how to navigate
Whether you’re just learning to drive or you are a visiting tourist about to take off on an adventure, it helps to know how to navigate in New Zealand. If you’re familiar with the countryside then you’ll know there are…
Safer driving by anticipating other drivers’ movements
Safe driving is about anticipating what is going to happen before it actually happens. You don’t want to be a solely reactive driver because this puts you at more risk of being in a situation you can’t drive around. Fortunately…
Driving Safely on Motorways
New Zealand doesn’t have an extensive motorway network like, for example, the UK, but if you live in Auckland, Wellington, Christchurch or Dunedin then you might need to drive on them frequently, not including the few expressways in Tauranga, Waikato,…
Can you drive in New Zealand using a foreign licence?
Driving in New Zealand is allowed if you meet all the following conditions below: You arrived in New Zealand for not more than 12 months; you can drive for a maximum period of 12 months for each time you enter…
Choosing your first car
If you’re a brand new learner driver and you have the opportunity to buy your first car, what car should you learn in? Many of you will be using a borrowed car, for example from your parents, but this isn’t…
Making your driving test a relaxing experience
If the thought of taking your driving test fills you with dread and you are anxious about being overcome with nerves, there are some proven techniques you can use to calm yourself. Give yourself a better chance of passing your…
Common mistakes new drivers make, and how to avoid them
Now you’ve got your full licence you’re free to roam this great country and there are thousands of kilometres of spectacular driving to be had. However, you’re still a novice at driving and there will be situations that you won’t…
The biggest driving distractions
Ideally, we should spend our time 100% focused on the road while driving, but that never happens because our brains develop efficient little subroutines that take care of the mundaneness. We then occupy ourselves with deliberate distractions, like singing to…
How do you avoid a speeding fine?
In New Zealand the usual tolerance is 10kph over the limit, and in holiday periods this is dropped to 4kph. There is some contention over whether this is successful in achieving a reduction in fatalities and as the practice is…
Self-driving cars will mean you won’t need a licence
Get behind the wheel of a car in New Zealand and you need a licence to take it on a public road. But what happens if the car is driverless; autonomous; self-driving? We don’t have a legal requirement for a…
Vehicle and workplace training
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