New drivers in Nova Scotia will have to wait a little longer before graduating to the next licensing stage.

Starting April 1, the learner stage of the program will extend to 12 months, or nine months if the driver completes an approved training program. At the moment, that phase is six months long — and just three months if a driver completes approved training.

During the learner stage, new drivers cannot have any passengers on board, aside from a supervisor who must have a licence. They must have a zero blood-alcohol level.

Those who receive their learner's licence before April 1 will continue to fall under the current program.

Transportation Minister Geoff MacLellan said the changes were made with the aim of reducing the number of crashes and injuries by having more experienced new drivers on the road.

"Currently, we have the shortest learner phase in Canada," MacLellan said in a statement. "Extending the beginner phase will allow the learner to gain experience and exposure to a greater variety of driving situations and conditions."

Statistics show a lot of mistakes — particularly involving texting or talking on cellphones while driving — are made by new drivers, MacLellan said.

He said other mistakes include "driving too fast for conditions and just speeding in general."

The extra learning time will also give new drivers a chance to get a taste of the seasons.

"We think that's an appropriate level of increased time behind the wheel as a learner, particularly, again, with the amount of sleet, precipitation and challenges that our fall and winter seasons bring the drivers," MacLellan said.