Learn how to drive on the internet

Learning to drive just went digital – a new website now teaches learner drivers how to perfect the skills needed to pass the restricted driving test.

The free practical driving programme is a joint venture between the Accident Compensation Commission and the New Zealand Transport Agency.

Lead media advisor for ACC Stephanie Julian says: “It’s all about getting out there and driving and getting free help online with learning to drive.”

When learner drivers register for the site they are sent free guide books and CD-ROMs to aid them in learning. Drivers are linked to a guide who is also sent free guide books.

The new practice website is an updated version of the old website.

Education manager for NZTA Jennie Gianotti says the information was out of date because it was a paper-based product with no interaction.

“Youth markets are looking for interactive sites. It has interactive video to understand skills. It shows you what to do before going out to experience those skills.”

Julian says this new interactive version is better than the previous version.

“The site presents the process of learning to drive as a journey, where each new skill occurs at a different location.”

The new site allows a learner driver to use the site to track progress by logging the hours they have done in a car and getting the approval of their guide.

By doing this drivers are able to win incentives in the form of vouchers.

Gianotti says the incentives are another way to encourage drivers to do 120 hours because inexperience leads to many crashes involving learner drivers.

Julian says: “Learner drivers who engage in more than 120 hours of supervised driving before they commence solo driving are 30 per cent less likely to crash than those who don’t.

“The current average for New Zealand learner drivers is around 50 hours.”

The cost of the website redevelopment was $250,000, which included the redevelopment of the website along with other costs.

It is funded through ACC’s injury prevention division and Novice Driver programme.

Gionotti says Practice is designed to reduce the cost ACC currently spends on road injuries for drivers aged 15-19 years. This cost is around $66 million every year.

ACC sees this helping young drivers by allowing them to gain more supervised experience in a bigger range of conditions during a time when they are at a high risk of crashing.

Senior advisor for AA Driver Education Foundation Kath Henderson says practice is a really good idea for learner drivers and they support the programme.

“It may not be that they get to 120 hours across a range of conditions with a supervisor but it can only benefit them.

“It gives them the tools as an effective guide to help learner drivers.”

The AA has a brochure themselves called “Going Solo” which gives information to parents for just before learners sit their restricted.

Henderson says both work well together because they are based on the idea that learner drivers keep practising.

“They are always learning and need to keep learning. It’s just the beginning and they are just starting.”

Since the website went live in April it has more than 1000 registered users, including both the learner driver and their guide.

To check out the website go to www.practice.co.nz