Driver licensing support in schools could unlock jobs for young New Zealanders

Ia Ara Aotearoa Transporting New Zealand is calling on political parties to fund a school-based pathway connecting young people with free, accredited driver training and licensing support.

More than one million New Zealanders aged 16 and over do not hold a full Class 1 driver licence, including almost half a million who hold no driver licence at all.

Transporting New Zealand, the peak industry body for the road freight sector, recommends that political parties commit to a future where schools play an active role in helping students with the licensing process and referring them to free, accessible driver education programmes.

Research by the Driving Change Network estimates that up to 90,000 people struggle to access the Graduated Driver Licensing System or stall part way through every year.

“These people are often not accessing existing driver support schemes as they don’t meet eligibility criteria or potentially don’t know what is available,” says Transporting New Zealand Policy and Communications Advisor Rowan Everton.

“This is where schools can better connect young people – who may not have family support or a car to practice in – and the many organisations who are doing good work in this area. But this will require a greater funding commitment from the Government,” says Everton.

Existing community programmes have demonstrated strong public value by unlocking employment opportunities and avoiding the legal and safety risks of driving without the appropriate licence. Social-return assessments found that every dollar invested produced an estimated return of $3.26 through the Howard League driver programme, $5.10 through Drive My Life–Taraiwa Mataora, and $7.20 through Blue Light’s Youth Driver Navigator Programme.

“Around 70 per cent of all jobs require a driver licence as a prerequisite, and this figure could be up to 85% for entry-level jobs,” says Everton.

“At a time when people aged 16-24 are facing high unemployment and underutilisation rates, ensuring this group is not facing unfair disadvantages in gaining their licence is one way the incoming Government can level the playing field.”

Transporting New Zealand also says the trucking industry faces an ageing workforce, with recurrent shortages requiring supplementation by overseas drivers.

Research commissioned for Transporting New Zealand shows one in ten truck drivers are aged over 65, and one-third of transport businesses expect up to 25% of their staff to retire or leave the industry within five years.

“We have a group of people in great need of career opportunities, and a road transport sector that is crying out for skilled, capable drivers. Bridging this gap should be a priority for both the Government and for the industry,” says Everton.

“Even if you don’t need a licence for work, the chances are you’ll need it to get to work. Schools are well-placed to normalise licence attainment and safe driving behaviour as part of the transition to adulthood, and should be better enabled to help facilitate this for students,” Everton added.

Transporting New Zealand’s election platform is calling for several initiatives to support a future driving workforce, including expanding funding for Class 1 driver licence training and support programmes, and reducing the time to obtain a heavy vehicle licence by recognising supervised work experience and competency-based assessment.

The association will also release the Teletrac Navman Supporting New Drivers report in November, examining barriers to getting a licence and policy recommendations to overcome them.

• Read Transporting New Zealand’s election platform here.