Marlborought 15- and 16-year-olds have been brushing up on their driving skills before the driver licensing system changes next week.
Regent School of Motoring chief instructor Rod Hill said the school holidays had been busy with a many teenagers "chasing licences" before the minimum age for a learner licence increases from 15 to 16 on Monday.
Marlborough AA says it has also been dealing with a rush of teenagers trying to get their learner licence.
The changes have been designed to improve road safety. Other measures include reducing the alcohol limit to zero for drivers under 20, from August 7, and more stringent restricted licence testing from February next year.
Mr Hill said the holidays had been busy with pupils eager to get their learner licence to avoid a longer wait.
Another group of students were working toward their restricted licences before testing becomes more strict. To pass, drivers would need skills equivalent to about 100 hours of tutored driving, he said.
Most young people going for the test may have done 10 to 12 hours of driving, so it was a quantum leap, he said.
Christianna Stewart, 16, will be sitting her restricted licence next month and is confident of passing. She lives in Renwick and needs her licence to get to work and outside activities.
She "freaked out" when she heard the minimum age was going up and decided to get her learner's licence when she turned 15. "If you're prepared and you pass it the first time you don't have to worry," she said.
Marlborough AA district manager Sally Wright said they had been dealing with a rush of young applicants for learner licences. "It's been crazy here for the past two weeks, even though most of these children could have gone for their licence a month ago."
She apologised for delays, but said they could do only 11 learner theory tests a day.
The law change will catch out 15-year-olds who already hold their learner licence. They will have to wait until they turn 16 1/2 to apply for their restricted licence, although they can apply for an exemption to sit the test at 16.
"You have to pay for an exemption to have the six months dropped off, but it will not be granted to anyone with a speeding ticket or conviction," Mrs Wright said.
- The Marlborough Express
SIMON WONG
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