Submission: Graduated Driver Licensing System (GDLS) changes

The Government is proposing changes to the Graduated Licensing System (GDLS) to “[make] a license cheaper and easier to obtain”. The changes include removing the Full License Test and reducing eyesight tests for older drivers.

We made this submission to the Ministry of Transport on 30 April 2025.

Our key positions:

• We do not support the changes to the Full License Test. If anything, our licensing system should require more testing before and after a full license is granted.
• A license should not be easier to obtain and to suggest that doing so would improve road safety outcomes is a farce.
• We support some of the minor administrative changes, such as introducing a zero-alcohol limit for drivers on Learner and Restricted Licenses, reducing the demerit threshold limit, and introducing a clean driving record requirement to the Restricted License.
• In order to improve road safety outcomes, which is the Government’s stated goal, and to encourage more people to ride bikes for everyday transportation, which will improve health, economic, and environmental outcomes—economic outcomes that the Government claims to support.

Find the text of our submission below.