Speeding – Driving School in Melbourne Alerts
Speeding. What a sensation!!
It may seem like fun but it is downright dangerous. The faster you travel the more likely
it is that you will be involved in a car crash, and the faster you go, the harder you hit.
The effects of speeding and being involved in a car crash can change your life forever.
Think about this:
Choose your speed and you
choose your consequences.
In a 60 km/h zone, travelling at:
• 65 km/h, you are twice as likely to
have a serious crash
• 70 km/h, you are four times as likely
to have a serious crash
• 75 km/h, you are 10 times as likely
to have a serious crash
• 80 km/h, you are 32 times as likely
to have a serious crash
than if you drive at 60 km/h.
In rural out of town areas, travelling just
10 km/h faster than the average speed
of other traffic, you are twice as likely to
have a serious crash.
Travelling a bit slower than other traffic
on the highway actually reduces the
chances that you will have a serious
crash.
Dry conditions:
The road is dry, you have a modern vehicle with good
brakes and tyres. A child runs onto the road 45 m ahead
of you while you are travelling in a 60 km/h zone.
You brake hard.
Will you stop in time?
• If you were driving just 5 km/h over the speed limit, you won’t
have time to stop and you will hit the child at over 30 km/h.
Wet conditions:
The road is wet, you have a modern vehicle with good
brakes and tyres. A child runs onto the road 45 m ahead
of you while you are travelling in a 60 km/h zone.
You brake hard. Will you stop in time?
• If you were driving just 5 km/h over the speed limit, you won’t
have time to stop and you will hit the child at over 30 km/h.
• In wet conditions, it is much safer to drive below the speed limit. If
a child steps onto the road 45 m ahead, you will have to be
driving under the speed limit to stop in time.
(Source: Australian Government Publications; ATSB, Speeding Brochure)
Your Learner Log Book
Get it right or you won’t be allowed to take a licence test
All Learner permit holders less than 21 years of age who obtained their learner permit on or after I July 2007 must have…
• passed the hazard perception test,
• be at least 18 years old,
• have held their Learner Permit for at least one year
• And have recorded at least 120 hours of driving experience (including at least 10 hours at night)
Before applying for a practical drive test.
The checklist on page 12 of the Learner Log Book section of the Learner Kit provides more detail regarding these requirements.
Your hours of driving experience must be recorded in the Log Book that Vic Roads gave you when you obtained your Learner Permit.
This Log Book is a legal document. It is your legal responsibility to make sure all details are completed accurately.
Every detail for every trip must be entered accurately. That means…
• Only use a pen.
• Complete all details for every trip.
• Fill in odometer readings — not trip meter readings.
• If you make a mistake, put a line through the entire entry and rewrite it on the next line.
• Do not use whiteout.
• Make sure the correct total is carried forward from the bottom of one page to the top of the next.
• Ensure the Log Book s not damaged illegible or missing pages.
It is a good idea to photocopy each page you finish. If you lose your Log Book you can use these copies to re-enter details in a replacement Log Book and have them all resigned by the Supervising Drivers (photo copies are not acceptable). You can buy a new Log Book for $16 by contacting Vic Roads on 13 11 71 or online via www.vicroads.vic.gov.au/bookshop
The instructions are described on pages 1 to 5 of the Learner Log Book.
The Declaration of Completion on page 6 must only be completed by you and your main supervising driver after you have finished using your log book.
Each of your Supervising Drivers must complete one of the forms on pages 9 to 11. Extra pages can be downloaded at www.vicroads.vic.qov,au
If on the day of your licence test Vic Roads does not accept your Log Book you will…
• Not be allowed to take the licence test.
• have to wait at least 6 weeks before you can take another test.
• lose all your fees.
Finally, it is suggested you do not stop recording trips once you reach 120 hours. Go for morel you will then have some hours ‘in reserve’ if any entries are deemed to be invalid and have to be deducted. Remember, you must not fall below 120 hours by the time you take your licence test.
Prepared by the Australian Driver Trainers Association (Victoria)
Your Drive Test in VIC
(Effective 1 July 2008, Source VIC Roads)
ABOUT THE DRIVE TEST
New probationary drivers have a high risk of being
involved in a crash.
To increase the safety of young drivers, there are new
rules for learner and probationary drivers:
• Most learner drivers must have at least 120 hours of
supervised driving experience before attempting to
pass the tests needed for a probationary licence.
• After passing the tests, there will be a two-stage
probationary period: P1 (red plate) for one year and
P2 (green plate) for three years.
All learner drivers have to pass two tests to get their
licence – the Hazard Perception Test and an on-road
practical Drive Test.
The Drive Test helps identify drivers who are ready to
drive safely on their own.
You’re more likely to pass the Drive Test if you:
• Have had at least 120 hours of supervised driving
experience.
• Have had supervised driving experience in a broad
range of different driving conditions – such as at night,
in wet weather, and on roads with different speed
zones.
• Can drive safely and legally in different driving
situations – such as in normal and busy traffic, at
intersections, and on multilane roads.
Use the VicRoads Learner Kit to help you get the driving
practice that you need.
Follow the four stages in the Learner Kit to safely guide
your driving practice and make sure you correctly fill in
the Learner Log Book as you go.
You will receive a free copy of the Learner Kit when you
pass your learner permit test (on or after 1 July 2007).
This brochure has general information about what you
need to know and do to pass your Drive Test in Victoria.
Read it carefully to help you prepare for your test.
For more detailed information about the test, and learner
and probationary requirements and to view the Learner
Kit, you should visit the VicRoads website at
www.vicroads.vic.gov.au.
Drink Drivers Risk Of Crashing
Did you know that your risk of having a crash is twice as high when you are at a BAC of .05, and four times as high when you are at .08?
The Police don’t allow any leeway when they catch a drink driver. Being only a little bit over is not an excuse, and the penalties are tough.
Keeping yourself below .05 can be tricky, but you have a better chance of succeeding if you understand more about the way alcohol works.
The TAC launched a new campaign today that aims to remind Victorians that there are a number of factors that can affect your Blood Alcohol Concentration (BAC) level. Using standard drinks are a good guide but they should be used conservatively, and if you are unsure about your BAC then don’t risk it.
Tips to help you get home safely:
plan ahead if you intend to drink. Nominate a designated driver beforehand so you know how you’re getting home or leave the car behind, walk, catch a cab or public transport
choose low alcohol drinks and alternate alcoholic drinks with non-alcoholic options
use standard drink sized glasses
eat before you drink, but avoid salty foods
don’t top up drinks and avoid joining in on rounds, and
pace yourself. Limit your drinking to one standard drink per hour if you are a female and two standard drinks in the first hour, and one standard drink each hour after that if you are a male.
Remember, the only way to reduce your BAC level is to allow time to process the alcohol. It takes about one hour to break down the alcohol contained in one standard drink. Excessive drinking the night before can have an impact on your blood alcohol content the following morning.
(Source: TAC Victoria)
