Restricted Licence - Approved Courses???

**Lindylou** · 18th June 2007, 13:49

Can anyone help me? I've an 18yr old son on a restricted Motorcycle Licence who wants to do an "approved course" to reduce the time of his restricted period... I've been told by the AA he has to do a defensive driving course in a car, and I've also been told by an LTSA Staff Memebr he has to do an advanced motorcyle riders course, on a motorcycle, but they can't give me the name of anyone who runs such a course!!!! I prefer the advanced riders course, (makes sense doesn't it?) but can't find anyone who does one within 2 hours of Palmerston North where we live?? Theres a place in Welly that runs advanced courses but they specifically state there is no advanced riders course anywhere that is approved to reduce the restricted time period. Anyone else had this problem? and how do we fix it?

**slinky** · 18th June 2007, 13:52

Just do the "non-approved" course [if your worried his skills need approving]
and then do the defensive driving course to reduce the time.

**phoenixgtr** · 18th June 2007, 13:54

I had to do a defensive driving course in a car (this was in Wellington earlier this year). There was just no facility for motorbikes. I never had to do an advanced riders course, just the defensive driving course

EDIT: I think if he does the defensive driving course at the AA in Lower Hutt the practical part of it is done with Andrew from Roadsafe on bikes

**Devil** · 18th June 2007, 13:56

My not so humble opinion. Tell him to wait it out, do the k's on the smaller bike. No driving/riding course is going to make up for miles under the belt.

**Kiwifire72** · 18th June 2007, 13:57

Originally Posted by sl1nky

Just do the "non-approved" course [if your worried his skills need approving]
and then do the defensive driving course to reduce the time.

in regards to the Defensive driving course does it have to be say in last couple yrs or so or one that I did 10 yrs ago count towards cutting time period down?????
Sorry to jump in on your thread Lindy hope you don't mind

**Drum** · 18th June 2007, 13:58

Phoenix is right. Your boy needs to do the Defensive Driving course to reduce his Restricted period. The advanced riding course will improve his skills, but not reduce the license period (a nice birthday or christmas present by the way).

**phoenixgtr** · 18th June 2007, 14:00

Originally Posted by Kiwifire72

in regards to the Defensive driving course does it have to be say in last couple yrs or so or one that I did 10 yrs ago count towards cutting time period down?????
Sorry to jump in on your thread Lindy hope you don't mind

It has to be within the last 2 years sorry

**Kiwifire72** · 18th June 2007, 14:04

Originally Posted by phoenixgtr

It has to be within the last 2 years sorry

Thats cool was wondering
will have to get work to put me thru another lol
is there a Difference between a Defensive Driving course and a Advanced Driving assesment carried out by a Qualified Driving instructor?????

**Devil** · 18th June 2007, 14:30

Originally Posted by Kiwifire72

is there a Difference between a Defensive Driving course and a Advanced Driving assesment carried out by a Qualified Driving instructor?????

Yes there is. Defensive driving courses are completely theory based on common sense topics that you'd really hope people had picked up if they'd bothered ready the road code. Advanced driving actually involves going out with an instructor and DOING.

I volunteered to do a defensive driving course after a mild run-in with the law about 10 years ago now. It was so boring it's not funny and was full of complete morons. Seriously. The type who pass marked police cars on blind corners type morons (yes we had one).

**Kiwifire72** · 18th June 2007, 14:36

Originally Posted by Devil

Yes there is. Defensive driving courses are completely theory based on common sense topics that you'd really hope people had picked up if they'd bothered ready the road code. Advanced driving actually involves going out with an instructor and DOING.

I volunteered to do a defensive driving course after a mild run-in with the law about 10 years ago now. It was so boring it's not funny and was full of complete morons. Seriously. The type who pass marked police cars on blind corners type morons (yes we had one).

lol but a assesment wont cut time only a defensive driving course I take it

**Devil** · 18th June 2007, 14:58

Well The advanced driving courses did cut the time back then... unless they've changed something i'd assume they still do.

**Hanne** · 20th June 2007, 17:51

Originally Posted by Devil

Yes there is. Defensive driving courses are completely theory based on common sense topics that you'd really hope people had picked up if they'd bothered ready the road code. Advanced driving actually involves going out with an instructor and DOING.

I volunteered to do a defensive driving course after a mild run-in with the law about 10 years ago now. It was so boring it's not funny and was full of complete morons. Seriously. The type who pass marked police cars on blind corners type morons (yes we had one).

Yep, the defensive driving course is theory based and you do exactly the same course for motorcyles and cars. BUT you DO get to make a poster showing what you learnt! (don't drink and drive/ wear a seatbelt... Somehow they managed to drag that out into 8 long hours...)

I would say it is worth doing the defensive driving to jump through their hoops (difference between 12 months and 18 months when under 25, remember) but look at doign a practical course if you actually want to learn something.

(Having said that, does anyone know what they do at the end of the DD now? When i did my car one it included an in car session, but there was no mention of if you are doing it for a bike... when Squiggles did the course a while back he didn't get any on road stuff but I think the in car session hadn't been added to the package yet either)

**irishlad** · 1st July 2007, 18:16

AA run DD course. Bloke from AA said riders & drivers do same lessons. Some centers will do last session as a supervised ride. Think course is $170 - $190. Involves 4 2hr sessions which include theory & a supervised ride. I'm booking for Takapuna, hopefully they'll let me do over 4 monday evenings. Otherwise I have to take time off work.
Hope this helps

**Gremlin** · 2nd July 2007, 01:25

Thread with info in it http://www.kiwibiker.co.nz/forums/sh...ensive+driving

I don't know what would be the closest to you, but it will give you some information