Mrs Reisima went to the road herself and knowing the sign was there, she filmed her own attempt to slow down as soon as she saw it but only got to 33km/h.
"This sign has been widely talked about by young people sitting the test and I believe that several have been failed here," she said.
"This is silly - here is a young girl who has been driving for 18 months now and as she was on her test I'm sure she was taking all possible care."
She had also heard of incidents for failing because the vehicle touched the kerb in the reverse parallel park, driving too slow around a roundabout and failing the U-turn before even leaving the testing station.
In another case she had heard of a girl who failed the first time for not being confident enough and the second time for being too confident.
"How do you win that battle?" she said.
"I have read the NZTA guide for the restricted and full practical tests and I don't believe that the testers are applying it in a fair or correct manner."
Mrs Reisima has also heard that some parents are now paying driving instructors to sit in the car for the test.
"On top of all this, is the delay in getting a test. Currently [it is] up to four weeks but we were advised that we could check online and we may pick up an earlier appointment. Funnily enough, one of the first things the website tells you is to have your credit card handy."
She said the NZTA should be able to predict the demand for these tests.
"I would like someone to convince me that these young people are being treated fairly. I'm as concerned about the road toll as anybody else but it's costing a ridiculous amount of money and frustration for families and the only result will be more unlicensed drivers using the road," she said.
Overall, 56 per cent of applicants in Wairarapa have passed the new restricted test above the national average of 47 per cent. The figures for the full test are 68 per cent compared to 61 per cent nationwide.
NZTA principal advisor driver training and testing standards Jim Furneaux said there is no target pass or fail rate.
"There is however, an expectation that tests will be applied consistently across the country. NZDL [NZ Driver licensing] has provided guidelines to their branches for several years stressing the need for consistency."
He said if there is an immediate failure error the test is terminated as soon as the error is committed. He also encouraged any applicant who feels they have been treated unfairly to lodge a complaint to NZDL so it can be fully investigated.
"Our understanding is that the applicant has not done so yet, but in general, failure to observe a speed restriction is grounds for a failed test," said Mr Furneaux.
"The new test is more challenging, and a higher standard of driving is needed to pass. We expected that pass rates would drop pretty sharply when the new test was brought in, but we also expected that those pass rates would gradually increase over time, as the message filtered through to more learner drivers and they began to put in the kind of preparation and practice needed to raise their skills to a higher level," he said.
