Better roads and safer cars contribute to improved crash outcomes and so does a higher skill level behind the wheel, which is where the New Zealand Automobile Association (AA) decided to lift the ante.

The AA has committed to investing a little over NZ$2 million a year in a programme delivering free driving lessons to either Members of the Association or those related to them.

Called AA Ignition the programme provides three free driving lessons to help novice drivers learn to be safer and better prepared behind the wheel delivering the best possible kick-start towards staying safe on the road.

The programme dovetails with the introduction of a tougher restricted practical driving test, which was introduced by the New Zealand Transport Agency in early 2012 which, along with lifting the age of driver licence eligibility to 16, was part of a suite of changes designed to improve road safety outcomes.

With tougher standards, test pass rates have fallen significantly. AA Driving School General Manager, Development Nigel Clark says about half of New Zealand’s newest motorists fail the initial practical driving test, which suggests they are not adequately prepared for driving unsupervised.

“We’ve made it our goal to help improve road safety outcomes by ensuring new drivers are better prepared,” he says. “AA Ignition is part of our commitment to improving driving skills and behaviours along with helping to build positive attitudes behind the wheel.”

More than 400 new drivers sign up to the programme each week since it began in October 2014 and this number continues to grow.  To meet demand the AA has recruited about 50 new driving instructors with now more than 100 across the country.

In addition the association also launched free innovative content on its website, called Learn to drive the AA way.  It provides information and guidance to new drivers and sees more than 15,000 new visitors to the site every week along with 1000 new customers booking driving lessons weekly. 

To date AA Ignition has translated into a 35% growth in paid lessons year on year each month for the AA Driving School with nearly half of Ignition students signing up as AA Members.

AA Ignition is an NZAA Member benefit and to be eligible participants need to have held their learner licence for two months or less and be able to link it to Membership with their own or through a parent, son, daughter, aunt, uncle or grandparent.

For more information go to aa.co.nz/drivers