Driver training promise hopes rest on Budget

WELLINGTON: Free practical and theoretical driver licence training remains a Government promise, and could become a reality when the Budget is announced later this month.

The Government has promised free training for secondary school pupils.

Associate Education Minister Tracey Martin said while the promise had not received funding, planning for how the training would work was under way.

‘‘What I’m aiming for is to actually have the free theory training inside of schools available to all secondary school students,’’ Ms Martin said.

‘‘And then working with other ministers, get the physical driver’s licence training being available to more secondary school students outside of school hours.’’

AA’s road safety spokesman Dylan Thomsen said he had been eager to see what the Government delivered.

‘‘We’re right behind that.’’ ‘‘We’re still waiting to see more details about what action is going to happen in that area, but we think that’s a fantastic initiative.’’

Ms Martin said high school pupils would be given theory lessons at school, helping them towards getting a learner licence.

The practical side would take the Christchurch Community Driver Mentor Programme nationwide, and would be outside school.

Ms Martin said that was so it could cater for people who left school, or were not enrolled.

‘‘We want to stop Maori particularly being picked up for driving without a licence, that’s the first thing,’’ Ms Martin said.

‘‘The second thing is to know that we have safe drivers who know the road code and all sorts of other things, on the road. And thirdly, this is about employment.’’ — RNZ