Learner Drivers Piss Off The Govt

Yea, yea, yea, blah, blah, blah...
Party tonight! Take the girls out!

The NZ Government is about to crack down on drivers who fail to progress from a learner licence to a full licence.
Assoc.Transport Minister Simon Bridges has labelled learner and restricted drivers "complacent", saying they "lacked respect" for the conditions of their licences. He says too many novice drivers are failing to show they're capable drivers by progressing to a full licence.
The current 10yr.life of learner and restricted licences will be reduced to five years, so that progressing to a full licence will not be seen as 'optional'. At the moment, nearly 40% of learner drivers and 32% of restricted drivers have their licences for more than six years.
Bridges says the current law never intended drivers to stay on learner and restricted licences indefinitely: "What these drivers need to do is demonstrate their skills and competence and graduate to a full licence in a reasonable time." He says motorists who linger on their learner or restricted licences are responsible for a large proportion of driving infringements, such as carrying unauthorised passengers, driving alone at night or failing to display "L" plates. Around 70% of learner licence breaches are from drivers who've had their licence for more than two years.
Changes to the life-span of learner and restricted licences will come into effect by 2015.
Factoids:
70% of learner licences held for more than 2yrs.
37% of learner licences held for more than 6yrs.
56% of restricted licences held for more than 3yrs.
32% of restricted licences held for more than 6yrs.