Infrastructure Minister Graeme Sturges believed the reforms would reduce injuries and fatalities, while Opposition Infrastructure spokesman Jeremy Rockliff welcomed the reforms, but said they were long overdue.

Mr Rockliff accused the Government of a re-announcement.

"Learners and provisionals account for almost one in five of the serious injuries and fatalities on our roads," Mr Sturges said.

Good driving practices will be a focus of the reforms, and drivers who follow the road rules will be rewarded, Mr Sturges said.

"Provisional drivers who progress through the system without breaking the road rules will not only gain their full licence but will also receive a refund of their provisional licence fees.

"Novice drivers who disobey driving laws - such as driving at excessive speed or driving while affected by alcohol - will find themselves penalised. One such penalty is sending novices back a licensing stage."

The second wave of reforms would arrive in April next year, Mr Sturges said.

"For learners, the minimum time required to hold a licence will be increased from six to 12 months."

The year will be divided into two parts - the first, a three- month stage.

"At the end of which a new practical driving test will be introduced to assess basic car handling skills and knowledge.

"This will be followed by a nine- month stage in which learner drivers must complete, as a minimum, the 50 mandatory hours of supervised driving before proceeding to the second practical driving test that will assess more advanced driving skills."