Racing driver Greg Murphy says the New Zealand driver regime is too lax on new drivers and doesn't test the skills they need.

Kiwi drivers are being let behind the wheel without having to prove basic skills like overtaking or driving in the wet - and the AA and motor racer Greg Murphy are calling for tighter rules to stop the carnage.

The top driver has slammed the current system as too lenient compared to many European countries with much better roads and better trained drivers.

"It's such a basic skill set to get a driver's licence here. We hand over licences to every Tom, Dick and Harry who turns up, but the basic is not good enough," Murphy said.

The graduated licence regime requires new drivers sit theory and practical tests and drive under restricted conditions for up to 18 months before gaining a full licence.

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However, common driving scenarios like open road driving and overtaking are not a testing requirement.

"New drivers are not road ready. The different facets of driving are not required by law to be tested," Murphy said.

Both Murphy and the New Zealand Automobile Association are advocating for change.

AA wants new drivers to have

between 50 and 120 supervised driving hours under their belt. This would encompasses all driving conditions including overtaking, driving in the rain and at night time, AA general manager for motoring affairs Mike Noon said.

"The first time our sons or daughters are out in these conditions shouldn't be on their own," Noon said.

But it wasn't just about teaching new drivers these skills, it was also about teaching them what to do if they weren't comfortable in the situations yet, he said.

"There are some people who don't overtake, are never going to, and that's okay."

Overtaking, driving in the wet and driving on rural roads and motorways are all things Kiwis aren't taught and are lacking in, Murphy said.

"We just think it's a God-given right to have a licence. But to make the roads safer we need to change things dramatically."

It is not just new drivers that don't have the skills, he said.

There are people who have been driving for 20 or 30 years who can't drive properly.

"They think because they haven't had a crash they are a good driver. That might mean they are just lucky."

The V8 supercar driver is passionate about safe driving and believes the current system is putting unprepared drivers on the road and lives are being lost as a result.

He suggested New Zealand should go onto a similar system to Germany.

In the European country learner drivers are required to have professionals sign off their abilities to drive in a variety of conditions, including overtaking on a motorway and driving in the wet.

Germans also have a set number of supervised driving hours needed before they can get their licence.

"We are pretty pathetic in what we require," said Murphy.

Training should be signed off in all types of conditions that could be encountered, he said.

Although the changes would cost more money, Murphy said it would be marginal to the end result - safer roads.

"What's the value of your life? Your son's life? Your daughter's life? Anyones life $500, $600? It's more than that."

"The social cost alone of a death on the road is over a million. We have the ratio all wrong when it comes to letting people drive."

Teaching the skills, like depth perception could only be taught through doing it, he said.

Murphy said taking new drivers into a controlled environment like a track gave them the opportunity to hone the skills they needed without the risk of hurting themselves or others.

"We need to make a change to save lives."

Driving instructors backed Murphy, saying there were gaps in driver education. For instance overtaking could not be practically taught without breaking the speed limit in most cases, so it was not done, Progress Driving School owner Brian Evans said.

"We teach lane lane changing, but we don't teach overtaking on rural roads. Usually people have to go over the speed limit to do this, so we don't get the opportunity to do this," Evans said.

"If we get a chance, we will do it, it just doesn't come along often."

Driving instructors could not just create conditions that were not available, they had to work with what was available at the time, he said.