What Is Considered Severe Driving?

When you hear the term severe driving, you might think of racing on a track or stunt driving in a movie. But in real life, especially when it comes to intensive driving courses and learner evaluations, severe driving means something very specific-and it’s not about speed alone. It’s about risk, control, and consequences. If you’re signing up for an intensive driving course, understanding what counts as severe driving isn’t just helpful-it could mean the difference between passing your test and having to restart your training.

What Counts as Severe Driving?

Severe driving isn’t a single action. It’s a pattern of behaviors that show a lack of awareness, poor judgment, or dangerous control of the vehicle. In New Zealand, driving examiners and instructors use the Driver Licensing Authority (DLA) guidelines to assess whether a learner’s behavior rises to the level of severe driving. These aren’t just opinions-they’re standardized criteria used nationwide.

Here’s what actually qualifies:

• Not stopping fully at a stop sign or red light-even if you slow down
• Driving too close to other vehicles, especially in heavy traffic or at intersections
• Failing to check mirrors or blind spots before changing lanes or turning
• Incorrect or unsafe merging, especially on highways
• Overcorrecting sharply after drifting out of lane
• Driving at unsafe speeds for conditions, like 50 km/h in a 40 km/h school zone during drop-off hours
• Not yielding properly to pedestrians, even when they’re clearly waiting to cross
• Using a phone while driving-even if it’s hands-free and you’re just glancing at it

One common misconception is that severe driving means speeding. But many learners who drive at the speed limit still get flagged for severe driving because they’re not scanning ahead, reacting late, or making abrupt maneuvers. A driver who hits the brakes hard because they didn’t see a car stop ahead of them? That’s severe. A driver who slows early, checks mirrors, and stops smoothly? That’s safe.

Why Does It Matter in an Intensive Driving Course?

Intensive driving courses are designed to condense weeks of lessons into a few days. That means instructors have to spot bad habits fast-and correct them before they become automatic. If you’re doing 6-hour days for five days straight, you’re not just learning the rules. You’re rewiring your instincts.

Severe driving behaviors don’t disappear just because you’re in a hurry. In fact, they often get worse under pressure. A learner who rushes through maneuvers because they’re tired or stressed is more likely to make the kind of mistakes that lead to a failed test-or worse, an accident.

One student I worked with in Wellington did everything right: knew the theory, had good steering control, and remembered to signal. But every time she approached a roundabout, she’d accelerate just before entering. She thought it looked "smooth." But it wasn’t. It was dangerous. She didn’t check her blind spot, she didn’t adjust her speed to traffic, and she forced her way in. That’s severe driving. We spent two full sessions just on roundabouts. She passed her test on the third try.

How Instructors Identify Severe Driving

Instructors don’t just watch for big mistakes. They look for signs of anticipation failure. That’s when a driver reacts to something after it happens, instead of preparing for it before it happens.

For example:

• Seeing a pedestrian at the curb and then braking hard → reactive → unsafe
• Slowing down as you approach the curb because you expect someone might step out → proactive → safe

Severe driving often shows up in small, repeated actions. A driver who doesn’t check mirrors every 8-10 seconds? That’s a red flag. A driver who glances at their phone for two seconds while turning? That’s severe. Even if nothing bad happened, the risk was there.

Examiners use a scoring system during the practical test. Minor errors cost you one point. Major errors cost three. Severe driving behaviors are flagged as critical failures-and they’re automatic fail conditions. You don’t get a second chance. One critical failure, and your test ends.

Common Myths About Severe Driving

There’s a lot of misinformation out there. Let’s clear up a few:

• Myth: "I didn’t hit anything, so it’s not severe."
  Truth: No collision doesn’t mean no danger. Severe driving is about potential harm, not just actual damage.
• Myth: "Everyone does it."
  Truth: Maybe some people do. But if you’re being assessed, you’re expected to follow the rules-not the crowd.
• Myth: "I’m just nervous, that’s why I drove fast."
  Truth: Nervousness doesn’t excuse poor control. Instructors expect you to manage your anxiety, not let it control the car.

Another myth is that severe driving only applies to new drivers. It doesn’t. Even experienced drivers taking a refresher course can be flagged for severe driving if they’ve picked up bad habits-like tailgating on highways or not using indicators properly.

How to Avoid Severe Driving in Your Course

If you’re doing an intensive course, here’s what works:

1. Slow down mentally. Your car doesn’t need to move fast to be safe. Focus on smooth, predictable actions.
2. Use the SIPDE system. Scan, Identify, Predict, Decide, Execute. Do this every 5-10 seconds. It forces you to think ahead.
3. Practice in real conditions. Don’t just drive in quiet streets. Practice in rain, at night, and during peak hours. Severe driving often shows up under pressure.
4. Record your drives. If your instructor allows it, record your lessons. Watch them back. You’ll spot things you didn’t notice while driving.
5. Ask for feedback immediately. Don’t wait until the end of the lesson. If you’re unsure whether something was severe, ask right away.

One student I trained in Porirua kept making the same mistake: he’d turn right from the left lane. He thought it was "more efficient." We did five practice turns in a row, each time correcting him. On the test, he turned perfectly. He didn’t just pass-he passed with zero critical failures.

What Happens If You’re Flagged for Severe Driving?

If your instructor identifies severe driving during your course, they’re required to stop you and explain why. It’s not punishment-it’s protection. They’re trying to keep you from failing your test or getting hurt.

You’ll likely be asked to:

• Pause the course for a few days to reflect
• Review the NZ Road Code section on defensive driving
• Practice specific maneuvers with a different instructor
• Complete a short written reflection on what went wrong

This isn’t a setback. It’s a reset. Many learners who get flagged for severe driving end up passing their test on the first try after addressing the issue. The key is to take it seriously, not personally.

Severe Driving vs. Dangerous Driving

Don’t confuse severe driving (a training term) with dangerous driving (a legal term). Severe driving is what gets you flagged in a lesson. Dangerous driving is what gets you fined, suspended, or prosecuted.

Examples of dangerous driving:

• Driving under the influence
• Street racing
• Driving with a suspended license
• Reckless speeding over 40 km/h above the limit

Severe driving is the stepping stone to dangerous driving. If you don’t fix it early, it can escalate.

Final Thought: It’s Not About Being Perfect

No one expects you to drive flawlessly on your first day. But they do expect you to learn. Severe driving isn’t about being a bad driver. It’s about being unaware. And awareness is the one thing you can improve-fast.

Intensive courses work because they force you to pay attention. If you’re willing to listen, adjust, and slow down-not just your car, but your thinking-you’ll not only pass your test. You’ll become a driver who stays safe for years to come.