The Ministry of Transport's move to raise the driving age from 15 to 16 is the first of several measures designed to make young people safer on the roads.
Automobile Association spokesman Simon Lambourne said there had been a rush of young people in Dunedin applying for driver's licences, in a bid to beat yesterday's cut-off date.
A queue at the Moray Pl AA Centre front desk stretched almost out the door yesterday afternoon, a situation one staff member said "was quieter compared with ... earlier today".
There had been a "huge demand" all week and most driver testing slots were also booked well into next week, Mr Lambourne said.
Other changes to be introduced include the lowering to zero of blood-alcohol limit for drivers under 20 on August 7, and the strengthening of restricted licence tests from next February.
Transport Minister Steven Joyce said improving the safety of young drivers was a priority because they were disproportionately represented in fatal and serious crash statistics.
"While none of the new measures is a silver bullet on its own, together they will have a significant impact ... they will all help keep our most inexperienced drivers safer on the roads."
Southern District acting road policing manager Senior Sergeant Steve Larking said 2010 statistics for young drivers involved in fatal or serious injury road crashes reflected the national figures.
Last year, young drivers aged between 15 and 24 caused 91 of the total 246 crashes in the southern district. In total, 31 people died and 259 were seriously injured in the district.
The New Zealand Transport Agency (NZTA) said it was working on changes to toughen up the on-road restricted licence test to encourage 120 hours of supervised driving during the learner licence stage.
NZTA chief executive Geoff Dangerfield said New Zealand had the highest road death rate in the OECD for 15- to 17-year-olds.
"That's a situation no-one should accept," he said.
Those who hold a learner licence can apply to progress to a restricted licence when they turn 16.
• To assist anyone who turns 15 today or tomorrow and wants to still apply for their driving licence, the NZTA will open its 0800 822 422 freephone contact centre between 9am and 2pm.
YOUNG DRIVERS (15-24)
National figures
• Make up 15% of all licensed drivers.
• Involved in 35% of the serious injury road crashes in 2010.
• Accounted for 128 deaths and 697 serious injuries.
Southern police district
• At fault in 37% of the 246 fatal and serious injury crashes in 2010.
• Caused 91 crashes, which left 10 dead and 107 seriously injured.
- Additional reporting NZPA
