Driver licence testing brought back
After almost a decade, the Cambridge community is welcoming the return of driver licence testing.
Spare testing slots are being booked within an hour, VTNZ says, and local leaders see it as a win, especially for ‘‘young people and our older residents’’.
It has been seven years since people could be tested in Cambridge, as the previous site was removed – something the same leaders called ‘‘poor decision-making’’ by the New Zealand Transport Agency.
There are hopes that reestablishing driving tests for both restricted and full licences in the area will relieve pressure on regional sites such as those in Hamilton which have seen wait times of up to 25 days.
Waipā District mayor Jim Mylchreest backed the opening of the site and said it had been a long time coming.
He was looking forward to reintroduction of driver testing in the area and greater convenience for people.
‘‘Our community has been very clear that it wants driver testing available locally, and I have 100% supported that sentiment, I’ll happily admit to having lobbied Waka Kotahi pretty hard for this change,’’ Mylchreest said.
‘‘In my view, not having driver testing available locally has significantly disadvantaged people, particularly young people and our older residents.
‘‘So I’m pleased Waka Kotahi has come on board and that the needs of people in Cambridge have been recognised.’’
The re-establishing of the site comes after Waka Kō tahi (The New Zealand Transport Agency) undertook a review last year into driver testing services in the Waikato region.
The reason behind the closure of the original site was not revealed but Waka Kotahi was noted asselecting sites with sufficient applicant demand, traffic volumes and the necessary networks for testing.
Waipā District deputy mayor, Liz Stolwyk said the community was ‘‘absolutely delighted’’ about the local site’s return.
‘‘When our town lost its ability to have driver licensing that was a real shame.
‘‘Our town felt it and has felt it ever since,’’ Stolwyk said.
‘‘There’s nothing more empowering for our youth than to have their driving licence, at the moment, they’re having to go to other towns to be able to get their licence and that can be quite difficult.’’
VTNZ operations support manager, Rachael Jobson said the site would help to reduce both wait times and costs for local people.
She said already the available time slots were being snatched up within an hour.
‘‘We’re thrilled we can now begin to reduce wait times in the Waikato region for people wanting to sit either their restricted or full licence.
‘‘It also means that people who in and around Cambridge don’t have to arrange transport to get to where they will sit their practical driving test,’’ said Jobson.
‘‘I know how much this means to our community especially our teenagers needing to get their licence for employment purposes . . .
‘‘Practical driver tests are already underway at VTNZ Cambridge . . . within the next six months we anticipate we’ll be completing around 1500 practical tests within Cambridge.
VTNZ is working with council and the landlord on more convenient car parking options for people sitting their tests.
Jobson said the next focus would be to increase capacity and expand testing sites outward into other towns and rural areas such as Matamata.
The director of regional relationshipsor Waka Kotahi, David Speirs, said changes to driver licence testing under the then government’s ‘Safer Journeys strategy’ were introduced in 2012 and required more challenging driving scenarios and test routes.
He said the strengthened test required sites with multiple lanes and a minimum level of traffic, therefore centres like Cambridge did not meet the criteria for testing at the time and were removed.
’’Waka Kotahi has a standard review process for driver testing sites that considers what locations would provide the most benefit and relief to a region, the accessibility of testing services, and the practicality of providing services.
‘‘A review of driver testing services across the Waikato region in 2021 and due to the roading network upgrades and the growth of Cambridge and Matamata, Waka Kotahi has been able to develop test routes that are consistent with the national testing standards,’’ said Spiers.
Currently, Cambridge has one testing officer working three days per week, but VTNZ is working towards setting up a second site and opening five days a week.
Cambridge services are currently available MondayWednesday with 15 booking slots per day.