Our first course of Defensive Driving started this week with 20 students attending the sessions run by Duncan from the AA. Students are required to attend 4 classroom sessions where they learn about driving scenarios and safe driving habits. Students then get to put the theory into action with an on road session with the instructor. We run three courses per year at Otago Girls' High School. 

About the Defensive Driving Course:

The Defensive Driving Course will give you the knowledge and confidence to be a smarter and safer driver. You’ll learn important defensive driving skills, such as assessing and identifying hazards to reduce the risk of being in a crash.

Whether you’re on your learner or restricted licence, you can reduce the time it takes to get your full licence by six months when you complete an NZTA Waka Kotahi approved AA Defensive Driving Course. This means you could apply for your full licence as early as 17½ years old.

If you have a learner licence:

• You can attend a Defensive Driving Course once you have your learner licence and you are confident enough to complete a 1-hour drive.

• If you complete a Defensive Driving Course, you reduce the time you're required to spend on your restricted licence by 6 months.

If you have a restricted licence:

• If you complete a Defensive Driving Course, you reduce the time you're required to spend on your restricted licence by 6 months.

We are very grateful to receive a large sum of funding from the Otago Motor Club Trust and a discount from the AA to run these courses at a very reduced rate. 

Year 12 and 13 students are welcome to put their names on the waiting list by completing the form that was emailed out to them earlier this term.