New Zealand Car Driving Driver Responsibility and Safety Questions and Answers — Questions and Answers
Question 1: A driver on a Restricted Licence is driving at 3 PM on a weekday without a supervisor. Who are they legally allowed to carry as a passenger?
- Their flatmate who lives in the same house.
- Any two of their friends from school.
- Their cousin who is visiting from overseas.
- Their dependent child who lives with them. (Correct answer)
Correct answer: Their dependent child who lives with them.
The NZ Road Code has specific exceptions for passengers on a restricted licence. Without a supervisor, a restricted driver can carry their spouse/partner, their own dependent children, their parent/guardian, certain relatives who live with them, or someone for whom they are the primary caregiver.
Question 2: What is the legal blood alcohol concentration (BAC) limit for a driver who is 19 years old?
- 50 milligrams per 100 millilitres of blood.
- 20 milligrams per 100 millilitres of blood.
- Zero. (Correct answer)
- 80 milligrams per 100 millilitres of blood.
Correct answer: Zero.
For drivers under the age of 20 in New Zealand, there is a zero alcohol limit. This means they cannot have any measurable amount of alcohol in their system while driving.
Question 3: Which of the following represents the minimum legal tyre tread depth required across at least three-quarters of the tread's width for a standard car?
- 2.0 mm
- 1.0 mm
- 2.5 mm
- 1.5 mm (Correct answer)
Correct answer: 1.5 mm
To be legally roadworthy and pass a Warrant of Fitness (WoF) in New Zealand, a car's tyres must have a minimum tread depth of 1.5mm across at least three-quarters of the tread width and around the entire circumference of the tyre.
Question 4: You receive a text message while driving. Your phone is securely mounted in a cradle. What is the only legally compliant and safe action to take?
- Pull over to a safe place and stop the car completely before reading or replying. (Correct answer)
- Briefly glance at the message to assess its urgency.
- Use your phone's voice-to-text feature to reply while keeping your eyes on the road.
- Pick up the phone to quickly type a reply as long as traffic is light.
Correct answer: Pull over to a safe place and stop the car completely before reading or replying.
It is illegal to create, send, or read a text message on a mobile phone while driving, even if the phone is mounted. The only safe and legal option is to pull over and stop the vehicle in a location where it is safe to do so before interacting with your phone.
Question 5: When driving and approaching a horse and rider on the road ahead, what is the recommended and safest procedure?
- Sound your horn briefly to warn them of your approach.
- Slow down significantly, pass wide, and avoid making sudden noises. (Correct answer)
- Maintain your speed but move to the far side of your lane.
- Flash your headlights to ensure the rider has seen you.
Correct answer: Slow down significantly, pass wide, and avoid making sudden noises.
Horses are easily frightened by loud noises or fast-moving vehicles. The NZ Road Code advises drivers to slow down, give the horse and rider plenty of room by passing wide, and avoid using the horn or revving the engine, as this could startle the animal and cause an accident.
Question 6: If you are the first person to arrive at a car crash where people may be injured, which of the following is the most important initial action?
- Immediately begin administering first aid to the most injured person.
- Move the vehicles off the road to clear the way for traffic.
- Check for dangers to yourself and others, such as fire, leaking fuel, or oncoming traffic. (Correct answer)
- Take photos of the scene to provide to the police and insurance companies.
Correct answer: Check for dangers to yourself and others, such as fire, leaking fuel, or oncoming traffic.
The first priority at a crash scene is to ensure the safety of yourself, the victims, and other road users. Before you do anything else, you must assess the scene for any hazards that could cause further injury or danger. This is a critical step before attempting to provide assistance.
New Zealand Car Driving Driver Responsibility and Safety Questions and Answers
A driver on a Restricted Licence is driving at 3 PM on a weekday without a supervisor.
Who are they legally allowed to carry as a passenger?