Free app launches to aid learner drivers

The government has officially launched Drive Go, a mobile application aimed at helping new drivers and coaches on the road.

Said to be New Zealand’s only official learn-to-drive app, Drive Go is part of an ongoing project by the Accident Compensation Corporation (ACC) and New Zealand Transport Agency (NZTA) to help young people become confident, capable drivers.

The idea is that Drive Go helps new drivers learn the essential safe driving skills they need to be ready for the restricted licence test, from starting out through to advanced driving skills like reverse parallel parking and overtaking.

According to NZTA senior manager of strategic interventions Lisa Rossiter, Drive Go was designed for drivers between the ages of 16 and 24, who are most at risk on the road and are over-represented in New Zealand’s road crash statistics. It was was developed with input from professional driving instructors, and can be used on its own, or to complement the skills learned through lessons with a driving instructor, she added.

Among the key features of the app are:

• Customised driving plans, tailored to the learner driver’s current level of experience, and whether they live in a rural, urban, or suburban area;
• Short animations and videos to show how to learn each skill;
• Personalised recommendations for what skills to practise next;
• Feedback tips to help coaches give effective feedback on driving;
• GPS tracking to show how much driving has been done and in what conditions and road environments;
• Feedback on speeding errors incurred during drives that would contribute to a ‘fail’ on the restricted test.

The app is available to download for free from the Apple App Store and on Google Play from July 07.