Drink Driving
THOUSANDS of Victorians found boozed-up behind the wheel will have their cars impounded as police roll out harsh new drink-driving penalties.
An extra 67 drivers a week are expected to have their cars confiscated after police launch an unprecedented crackdown on first-time offenders who blow over .10.
Vehicles, even if not owned by the driver, will be impounded and drivers will have their licences cancelled for 10 months.
Being caught will also be a hip-pocket hit with drunk drivers handed a $627 fine and any towing costs.
EDITORIAL: A LAW TO CUT THE CARNAGE
Victoria Police Assistant Commissioner Robert Hill warned Victorians not to get behind the wheel after drinking.
“There is no place in our community for drivers who take risks with their life and the lives of others. This legislation will ensure these irresponsible drivers are removed from our roads.
“Drinking and driving are two behaviours that just don’t mix,” he said. “If you are going to drink then don’t drive — plan ahead, catch public transport, organise a designated driver or call a taxi.”
In 2013, up to 3750 first-time offenders were caught by police with a reading above 0.10.
Based on those figures police predicted more than 3500 more people will have cars impounded every year.
All highway patrol areas will require vehicles to be impounded except for Nunawading and Brimbank, which give the option of clamping cars under an immobilisation pilot.
The new rules are part of Road Safety Amendment Bill 2014 dubbed the “cocktail laws” which aimed at getting motorists who drive while on drink and drugs, off Victorian roads. It passed the Victorian Parliament with bipartisan support last year and will take effect on August 1.
Police Minister Wade Noonan warned boozers faced more penalties than ever.
“Anyone driving with a blood alcohol reading of .10 or higher is a danger to themselves and others, regardless of whether it is their first offence,’’ he said.
“Victorians deserve to be safe on our roads without having to worry about boozed-up drivers.
“People who drive with that much alcohol in their system are idiots, plain and simple.’’
Boozy drivers are also facing a higher chance of being caught after the Andrews Government announced 10 new drink and drug buses will be hitting the streets in a new $15 million safety scheme.
Meanwhile, revenue from traffic and red light camera fines will be funnelled into fixing Victorian roads under a new law being drafted by the Government.
The move will see every dollar from bad drivers going into the Better Roads Victoria Trust Account to upgrade roads and fix level crossings.
VicRoads and Victoria police are being consulted by staff from the Department of Economic Development, Jobs, Transport and Resources who were given the green light to begin work on the bill.
Premier Daniel Andrews announced the move during his election campaign.
Legislation is needed because the current fund created under the Business Franchise (petroleum products) Act 1979 is inadequate.
The new law will see millions poured into the trust which will then be boosted to $1 billion by the Government.
alex.white@news.com.au
Lowering the driving age ?
A recent article in The Age newspaper by transport reporter, Adam Carey, explored the issue of lowering the driving age
in Victoria to boost job prospects.
Victoria has long been the only state or territory in Australia with a legal driving age of 18 but, if thousands of people have
their way, the state will join the rest of the country and allow 17-year-olds to drive unaccompanied.
High school student Khalid Issa launched a petition on Tuesday, calling on Road Safety Minister Luke Donnellan and
VicRoads to “allow Victorians to obtain their P-plates at 17 years old”. By Friday morning it had attracted more than
18,000 signatures.
Two months shy of his 17th birthday, Khalid is a young man in a hurry. A year 11 student living in Werribee, he would
rather be learning a trade, perhaps as a carpenter, than in school. But the few prospective employers he has approached
have all told him he would need a driver’s licence to be considered, he said.
“I’m definitely not alone in this,” Khalid said. “I have so many friends that just want to start a career a little bit early but
they’re kind of put on hold just because Victoria is the only state that has this rule. In any other state, Khalid could get his
probationary licence at age 17. In the Northern Territory, where the age is even younger at 16 and six months, he would
already be driving.
Khalid said Victorian law was holding him back from getting a job, at a time when the government was looking to generate
more jobs. Victoria has differed from the rest of Australia on the issue for more than 40 years, a stance that, according to
VicRoads, has saved hundreds of lives.
A government discussion paper released in 2005 calculated that if the driving age was lowered to 17, the road toll would
rise by 20 in the first year, with 250 more people seriously injured, and by 13 extra deaths each year thereafter, with 200
more serious injuries.
More recent state-by-state road toll data also indicates that
Victoria has a superior record to other states regarding road
deaths among young adults.
RACV opposes any change to the status quo. “There is too much
risk that it would increase road trauma,” said Melinda Spiteri,
Manager Road User Behaviour. “You’ve got younger, perhaps
more immature people getting their licence. And purely in
numbers, you’re increasing how many people are on the road.”
Transport Accident Commission chief executive Janet Dore said
that anything that encourages earlier driver licensing also
increases crash risk. “When Canada reduced the minimum driver
licensing age to 16 from 18, crash involvement among new drivers
increased by 12 per cent and fatalities increased by 24 per cent,”
Ms Dore said.
VicRoads’ James Holgate said: “Lowering the minimum licensing
age in Victoria would be a step backwards.”
What Types of Accidents are the Most Common?
According to AAMI’s annual Crash Index, Victorian
drivers have the highest incidence of nose to tail
accidents in the country with nearly three out of ten
crashes involving one car colliding into the back of
another.
One fifth of Victorian drivers are also failing to give way
and finding themselves in accidents as a result.
AAMI’s analysis of almost 250,000 accident insurance
claims between October 2012 and September 2013
shows the top five types of accidents happening on
Victorian roads are as follows:
1. Nose to tail (28.8%)
2. Failed to give way (21.5%)
3. Parked car dings (21.1%)
4. Collision with a stationary object (13.1%)
5. Collision while reversing (11.7%)
Over the years there has been little change in the type of
accidents on Australian roads. AAMI’s Crash Index
reports show that the incidence of nose-to-tail collisions
has remained stable for the past decade. Parked car
dings however continue on an upward trend having risen
from 15% in 2004 to 21.1% in the latest Crash Index.
These types of accidents happen because of inattention
and driver impatience, which frequently leads to tailgating
or following too closely behind other cars.
Members are encouraged to discuss these statistics with
their students to raise awareness of the most common
types of accidents and what drivers can do to avoid
them.
Thanks to AAMI for providing this information. More
detail is available at www.aami.com.au.
Driving Fatigue.
Fatigue results in thousands of crashes every year.
What do we mean by “fatigue” You are fatigured when you become tired and can’t concentrate on your driving. You may even have a micro-sleep* or fall asleep at the wheel.
Micro- sleeps {nodding off} typically lasts between 2 and 20 seconds – but if you are travelling at 100 /h, in one second the car will have gone 28 m without you being in control.
How do we know?
Unlike alcohol-related crashes, there are no simple tests to determine if fatigue was a cause in a crash.
Investigators suspect fatigue as a cause when;
> The crash occurs late at night, early in the morning or late in the afternoon,
> A single car has run off the roadway.
> Nothing indicates the driver tried to avoid the crash {e.g. no skidmarks}
There are many warning signs for fatigue. A combination of any of the following signals that the driver is becoming fatigured and needs to take a break:
> yawning
> eyes feeling sore or heavy
> vision starting to blur
> start seeing things
> daydreaming and not concentrating
> becoming impatient
> feeling hungry or thirsty
> reactions seem slow
> feeling stiff or cramped
> driving speed creeps up or down
> starting to make poor gear changes
> wandering over the centre line or onto the road edge
What has research told us about fatigue?
Everybody needs sleep and we all have our own patterns of sleepiness and wakefulness. Fatigue {sometimes referred to as drowsiness or sleepiness} causes crashes because it slows down the driver’s reaction times and affects their scanning abilities and information processing skills.
> Although the need for sleep varies among individuals, sleeping eight hour in 24-hour period is common.
> The effect of sleep loss builds up. Regularly losing 1 to 2 hours sleep a night can create a “sleep debt” and lead to chronic sleepiness over time – and cause involuntary micro-sleeps.
> Just being in bed doesn’t mean a person has had enough sleep. Disrupted sleep has the same effect as lack of sleep. Illness, noise, activity, lights, etc, can interrupt and reduce the amount and quality of sleep.
Fatigue can strike any driver, but you are at greater risk as a young person if you:
> Combine heavy study or work with leisure and late night socialising.
> Change your sleep patterns and reduce night time sleep.
> Drink alcohol and or use other drugs.
Here are some ideas to minimise fatigue when you are driving:
> Plan to get sufficient and regular sleep. Most people need around 7-8 hours in every 24-hour period. Making do with less sleep will affect your driving.
> If you are sleepy or tired, don’t drink even small amounts of alcohol. Alcohol acts as a depressant on the central nervous system and can make you even more tired or less alert.
> Try not to drive during your normal sleeping hours. Your body works in a rhythm or pattern and when you upset this rhythm it can badly affect you.
> If possible take a taxi or a lift with another person rather than driving during your normal sleep times. {you can always pick your car up in the morning if you have to .
> Think about what activity you were doing before the drive. If it was physically or mentally demanding then fatigue may “kick in” within a few minutes of beginning the trip.
> Know the signs that indicate you are tired.
> If you are fatigued , you must stop driving. Let a passenger drive or take a short “power nap” before continuing with the trip.
> Fatigue can set in even on short local trips. If there is no alternative to travelling a short distance when you are tired then make sure you make your journey as uncomfortable as possible – too cold, noisy or windy for example. If this works it won’t work for long and if it doesn’t work you are putting yourself at great risk and you should stop.
Source: Road to Solo Driving
Mobile phone usage/ or not, when driving – helpful tips
Please see below helpful tips regarding new laws for mobile phone usage when driving a car in Australia, taken from Driver Training Association News Letter end 2013.
>>>>> Mobile Phone Usage/ or not, when driving a car Australia 2014 <<<<<<
Turning Arrows
Turning arrows can be tricky for someone who is just learning to drive. Though they may seem straightforward to experienced drivers, there are actually many turning rules that learner drivers may not be aware of.
Take, for example, turning lanes. If you are in the leftmost turning lane, you may turn into the left or middle lanes, but not the right lane. If you are in the right lane, you may ONLY turn into the right lane. This can get tough when you take trucks into account – remember, if a truck is in the right turning lane, you need to take extra care not to overtake it, or else you could end up running off the road! Thankfully, trucks usually turn in the leftmost lane.
Learners should also bear in mind that the turning lane lights often go through their cycle quickly. It’s important not to dawdle when you turn, otherwise you could leave the rest of the the queue with a headache. Instead, turn as quickly as it is safe to do so. You still need to leave appropriate distance between you and the incoming car though! An ESDS Driving Instructor will teach you how to balance these finicky aspects of driving, improving your skills in the long term and giving you the best chance at passing your drive test. Book your lesson today!
Lessons for the Long Term
Too many learner drivers tend to spend the duration of their permit with one goal above all else – passing the drive test and getting their probationary licence. While this may seem self-evident at first, we want to remind learners that getting their licence is actually only secondary – the main aim of learning to drive is just that, learning to drive, safely and confidently.
Anyone with enough time can get the required 120 hours. What distinguishes good drivers from bad ones is the quality of those hours. If a learner spends all their time picking up bad driving habits from their supervisors, driving in a small range of conditions and ignoring the rules of the road, they are more likely to have serious accidents and engage in ‘hooning behaviour’.
At ESDS, we focus on equipping the learner with the skills that they need to drive safely and confidently in the long run, not just well enough to get their licence. We believe that driver education leads to greater safety for everyone on our roads, and we do all we can to facilitate it.
We provide lessons at competitive rates with competent instructors. All of our instructors are patient and equipped to handle learners of any skill level. We highly recommend driving lessons to improve the quality of the learners driving, enable them to pass the probationary licence drive test and ultimately become a safe, sensible driver on the road. Give us a call to arrange your next lesson!
Driving Lessons in Winter Weather
The winter months can be the most hazardous for drivers. Heavy rain, fog and even ice and snow all pose risks on the road. Slow traffic through peak-hour rain can provoke dangerous road-rage and driving can get ever-more aggressive at this time of the year. It’s important that learner drivers learn how to manage these risks effectively and negotiate difficult conditions safely and confidently.
There’s no time like winter to start with professional driving lessons. With ESDS, a professional instructor is there to guide learners through every aspect of driving, including parking techniques, road rules, navigation, road courtesy and, most importantly, road safety. In difficult driving conditions, it’s easy for inexperienced driver to panic. This unfortunately increases their risk of having an accident. Driving lessons builds a learner driver’s confidence and enables them to make sound decisions no matter what the conditions are like.
Our instructors will guide learners through situations particular to winter road conditions, should they arise. For example, when do you use your high-beams (fog lamps)? How fast should you go in the wet? How do you anticipate what other drivers will do in low light conditions? What will cause you to lose control of the car? All of these are important skills, not only for passing the drive test, but also for your safety in the future. Call us today to arrange your driving lesson.
Interesting Facts — Did you Know–?
The ADTA attended the Australian College of Road Safety Conference in Melbourne in September and obtained some interesting information.
For instance……
Australia is now outside the top ten OECD countries for road fatalities. The safest countries are Sweden, The Netherlands and The United Kingdom.
By 2020 road deaths will be the third most common cause of death
10% of drivers are involved in 50% of crashes
Fatigue contributes to 20% of crashes
90% of crashes are due to the behaviour / performance of the driver as opposed to driving conditions, vehicle malfunction or road structures.
A teenage driver travelling with a teenage passenger is 50% more likely to be involved in a crash.
Ten years ago there was only 5 one star ANCAP rated cars available. Now three quarters of new cars have 4 or 5 stars.
A 2 star car has double the accident / injury risk of a 5 star car.
Probationary drivers would be 80% safer if they drove 5 star cars, which would equate to 15% less road fatalities.
Wire rope barriers and bitumen on the side of roads with ripple strips lead to a 60%-90% decrease in serious injuries and fatalities.
Sweden has a default speed limit of 70kmph, compared with ours which is 100kmph
{Information provided by Australian Driver Trainers Association {Vic} Inc.
Driving Lessons and Safety
Young drivers are at the highest risk of any age group when it comes to fatal car accident statistics. Although Learner drivers are new to the roads and generally have no prior experience driving, they have the lowest fatality rate of any age group on our roads. Why do young drivers go from being innocuous to the most dangerous demographic of drivers? It’s all got to do with attitude. Young drivers relish the freedom when they finally obtain their P’s. As a consequence, there’s a lot that can go wrong.
Learning to drive without a qualified instructor is detrimental to the ability of young drivers. Though many parents are confident and often considered ‘good’ drivers, bad habits naturally accumulate with age. These are transferred to your children, possibly by accidental misinformation or lenient supervision. It’s nothing personal – we’re all human and make mistakes, after all, but don’t you want the best for your child?
Most learner drivers need some formal instruction to simply pass their Probationary Licence Test – parent supervision alone isn’t usually enough. However, to further ensure their safety on the roads, you need a patient, knowledgeable instructor who will guide your child through the ins and outs of driving. Doing so will enculture them with safe driving habits, making them less likely to take dangerous risks on the road.
Henceforth, Eastern Suburbs Driving School’s mission is to create drivers who will not only pass their P plate test, but also make safe, rational decisions on the road to protect themselves and those around them.
The Challenge of the Test
VicRoads creates its tests to ensure that drivers have the right combination of skills for safe driving. These represent the final challenge for most learner drivers, a kind of gateway before the world of solo driving is at last opened up for them. The result of these tests are a Probationary licence, which now exists in a graduated system of red and green plates. Driving tests consist of two main parts, the Hazard Perception Test and the Drive Test.
It’s usually recommended by VicRoads that the two tests be completed on separate days. This is is done because, if the Hazard Perception Test is failed, you won’t have to relinquish your booking for the drive test immediately afterwards – a costly mistake to make. The Hazard Perception Test is a video-based test that takes place at a selected VicRoads office. A image appears on screen, and the potential licencee must indicate using a mouse when a hazard (such as a cyclist or passing traffic) arises or clears. With adequate preparation, the Hazard Test can be easily surmounted by most young drivers, placing the learner in a good position for the drive test.
The Drive Test is what most people think of when they consider going for their Probationary licence. This involves an on-road test where a VicRoads assessor conducts a series of exercises designed to test driver’s abilities in actual traffic. This is often the most daunting and challenging part of the licensing ordeal. Of course, like the Hazard Perception test, it can be managed with prior preparation. Driving lessons are useful in their capacity for preparing young drivers for the test. The instructors at ESDS know exactly what skills are necessary for passing. That’s why it’s a great idea to book a lesson with us before your next drive test.
Remember, once you get you P-Plates, don’t forget to display them prominently on your vehicle. The tests are the first steps towards the world of independent driving.
Safety and Reliability
ESDS is a family-run business that you can trust. We’ve been teaching young drivers sound road skills for years, and that’s why we believe that we have some of the best experience in the business. We pride ourselves on providing a safe learning environment that encourages mature and responsible driving, as well as courtesy on the road. Driving with a professional instructor is the best way to develop proper awareness of the road rules, and ESDS can provide the reliability and reassurance essential for learning these vital skills.
Once you book an appointment with us, either online or by phone, one of instructors will spend time assessing your driving ability and any potential areas for improvement. He or she will then guide you through the driving process, giving feedback and suggestions to help you improve. Our rates include pick-up and drop-off from and to your desired location, so lessons with us are convenient and require a minimum of fuss. Before your lesson, it’s a great idea to browse our website and look through our resources for learner drivers – our FAQ section, for example, has some very useful tips and tricks. Browse around, and book your lesson today!
The Merits of Driving Lessons
Some learner drivers tend to rely on a parent or guardian to provide them with driving knowledge. It’s easy to see why; many older drivers have considerable experience on the roads, often in a wide range of conditions, and are familiar to the learner. Unfortunately, the scope of focus of parent ‘instructors’ is generally limited, and this can take a regrettable toll on the eventual skills of the learner. While driving with a parent can be a great way to get the raw hours of driving experience and culture a sense of independence and confidence, it’s virtually essential that professional instruction is available for the young driver. This will allow them to develop proper skills consistent with the demands of the VicRoads assessors and the regimen of safe driving.
Driving lessons focus on developing crucial skills within pupils. Many supervising drivers, despite their often sound experience, all too often lack an extensive knowledge of the road rules and situations outside of their routine driving patterns. Instructors are trained to educate young drivers on all essential facets of driving, ensuring that there are no holes in their knowledge base. This is one of the reasons behind our very high pass rate. Surprises may often come up in the drive test that can throw inexperienced young drivers, and at worst cause them to fail their drive test. Taking lessons greatly improves their chances of succeeding and remaining responsible drivers.
Whether at the beginning of the learning process or the final stretch before the final tests, driving lessons are excellent ways of consolidating driving ability or establishing a firm, reliable and secure skill base for aspiring motorists. Book a lesson today, and ensure that your skills are honed for the world of driving.
What is the two second rule ?
The two second rule is about the following distance behind the vehicle in front.
The following distance is the space or gap between you and the vehicle in front.
You must keep your vehicle a safe distance from any vehicle in front of you. A safe distance should be enough to allow time to slow down and avoid trouble.
You should be at least two seconds behind the vehicle in front. You can check this by a simple test:
>> Focus on a marker in the distance such as a signpost or tree and note when the vehicle in front passes the marker, then count the number of seconds before your vehicle passes the same marker. Ask your supervising driver to also do this and compare your results.
If your count is not at least two seconds then you are to close.
At least two seconds of time and the distance this represents under ideal driving conditions are necessary to give you time to react to any changes which may happen.
Often, you may need more than two seconds,
This includes:
>> when visibility is poor
>> if conditions are dark
>> if conditions are wet or slippery
>> when you have a heavy load
>> when the road is unmade
You need to develop your judgement skills about what distance at different speeds represents two seconds. This skill will only come with lots of supervised driving experience.
But remember , under any conditions that are less than ideal, a longer gap is recommrnded.
Souce: The Road to Solo Driving
Driving Crashes Types and Causes
Drivers of all ages are involved in crashes. However, young drivers have more crashes than others and are more likely to be involved in the same types of crashes.
Two important things that can help reduce the involvement of young people in road crashes are:
1 Having plenty of driving practice during the learner period.
2 Slowing down to provide plenty of space and time to be able to react to the unexpected.
Common errors made by learner drivers are often as a result of:
>> Not scanning the environment well.
>> Misjudging the speed of other vehicles, particularly oncoming cars.
>> Travelling too close to other vehicles.
>> Travelling too fast, both for the road conditions and for their level of experience.
>> Being overconfident in their ability.
>> Speeding.
>> Inattentiveness or fatigue.
The three most common crash types for young drivers involve:
A Both turning and driving straight ahead at intersections.
B Rear end crashes.
C Veering off the road to the left.
A. Both turning and driving straight ahead at intersections
Why do young people become involved in this type of crash ?
>> Poor or insufficient scanning of the driving environment.
>> Not judging the gap in the traffic well.
>> Overconfidence in driving ability.
>> Speeding.
>> Reliance on other drivers to avoid a crash.
B. Rear end crashes
Why do young people become involved in this type of crash ?
Driver at rear :
>> Speeding.
>> Not enough space left between vehicles.
>> Relying on other drivers to avoid a crash.
>> Driver distraction.
>> Misjudging the required stopping distance.
Driver in front:
>> Driver distracted.
>> Not doing enough or any mirror or head checks.
>> Indicating intentions late or not at all.
>> Misjudging stopping distance, and late braking.
C. Veering off the road to the left.
Why do young people become involved in this type of crash?
>> Speeding.
>> Lack of steering control.
>> Distraction from the driving Task.
>> Fatigue.
Source: ATSB Key Facts for New Drivers
Driving for the conditions 2
Why is it often safer to lower your speed limit to below the posted speed ?
Busy roads are full of unexpected problems. A child may see its parents on the opposite side of the road and dart across without looking. You may be in control of your vehicle but you can’t control what other road users may do.
If you reduce your speed, you have more time to react to an unexpected situation.
When roads are wet and slippery it takes much longer for your vehicle to come to a stop after applying the brakes. When it rains after a long period of dry weather it is even more important to go slower, as the rain mixes with oil and dust on the road, making it even more slippery than usual.
Bright sunlight can blind you just for a moment when a hazard appears in the distance. If you are travelling at a slower speed you have time to react safely.
If you are travelling in an unfamiliar area, you will not be aware of the dangers that are around. By slowing down, even by 5 km/h, you give yourself an opportunity to see any hazards and more time to react.
Remember, the slower you go, the more time you have to react to unexpected situations.
Source: ATSB Key Facts For New Drivers
Driving For The Conditions 1
Imagine you are in a 60 Km/h zone
In which of the following situations would you slow down ?
When travelling near or through a shopping centre
When near a school zone just before school begins or after school ends
When there is more traffic than usual
When it is raining heavily
When it is raining lightly
When the sun blinds you for a moment
When there are road works
When the area you are driving in is unfamiliar to you
The answer is in every one of the situations listed above
Speed limit signs indicate Maximum speeds allowable
In every State and Territory of Australia you must adjust your travelling speed below the posted limit if the driving conditions mean that the maximum speed is unsafe.
It is not enough to be within the law: you need to be in control and able to cope with the unexpected.
Being legally in the right is not much comfort once:
* your car is off the road damaged, or
* you or someone else is injured or dead.
Source Key Facts For New Drivers
Some Facts About Driving
In Victoria, there are several hundred thousand crashes every year.
These crashes are not accidents – they are due to drivers making mistakes.
Not all driving mistakes result in a crash. Think about the mistakes you’ve seen drivers make without causing a crash:
-cutting off other cars
-not giving way
-misjudging gaps
-trying to overtake when it’s not safe
-just not seeing other road users
If driving is so easy, why do so many drivers regularly make mistakes, sometimes resulting in crashes?
All young drivers face the same challenges because driving is complicated. It requires a lot of time and effort to become a good driver.
Research has shown that a minimum of 120 hours of supervised practice as a learner and restrictions on new solo drivers for the first few years, can help reduce the risk of a crash. This is why Victoria has introduced the Graduated Licensing System, including the mandatory 120 hours to be completed in the Learner Log Book by those aged under 21 years of age when applying for a Probationary Licence.
Source VicRoads Road to Solo Driving
Tips for your Driving Test
- It is normal to be nervous on your Licence Test so turn that nervous energy in to a positive so as your awareness skills are totally switched on.
- You would not be attempting your Licence Test if your instructor did not think you were ready and at a standard to pass.
- You have been taught to drive defensively.
- You are aware of the Victorian Road law and are required to obey it.
- You have completed a minimum of 120 Hours driving including at least 10 hours of night driving, if not more, over a two year period.
- You have practised on all types of roads and conditions Including freeways highways and city traffic including busy intersections and high volume traffic areas.
- Your car control and observation skills are at a safe standard and your concentration levels are good.
- You are aware of the Victorian Drive Test Criteria and drive to that standard.
- You are aware of the pre drive check and have no problems identifying the controls as they are checked.
- You have driven around the area that your Licence Test will be conducted in and have been shown any unusual traffic situations road markings or intersections that are out of the ordinary.
- You are set to pass
- The driving test is just like another driving lesson with the exception of the licence testing officer being in the back seat.
- If you are not sure of any directions ask and they will be repeated.
- Your driving instructor sits in the front seat as per normal driving lessons.
- Finally: The licence testing officer is not out to fail you, their job is to assess driving standard; and if it meets that standard, [and it will] issue you with your licence.
Written By David – Driving Instructor at Eastern Driving School Melbourne
The challenges of driving
Facing the real challanges of driving.
New solo drivers have often done very little driving.
This can result in them having almost no experience of the real challenges of driving.
These challenges include
Variety of traffic conditions from light traffic in local streets to heavy peak hour traffic.
Extremes in weather rain,fog,or icy conditions
Different driving manoeuvres – driving in roundabouts,making U-turns or turning at different types of intersections.
Effects of the time of day on visability – night driving or sun glare when driving at dawn or dusk.
Unexpected actions of other drivers and riders-stopping quickly, merging or turning without warning.
Types of roads – freeways, roads with trams or undivided main roads.
Imperfect road surfaces – potholes,gravel or slippery surfaces.
Handling any of these challenges when faced with distractions inside the car – radio,noisy passengers or mobile phones.
The worst time to gain this experience is when you are driving solo, on your own – with no supervising driver to give you advice or help. So make the most of your time as a learner driver and don’t think that you can master the challenges of driving overnight – you’ll never really stop learning. Remember, being over confident, especially as a new solo driver can lead to making poor decisions when it counts.
Drink Driving .05 .02 or .00
Should we change the blood alcohol concentration from .05 to .02 ? Debate is about to rage as to change the limit or not and we will all have or should have an opinion. Limits vary between country’s example Australia .05, Ireland .08, Italy .05, Jamaica .08, Japan .03, Norway .02, Poland .02, Romania .00, Sweden .02, UK .08, Us .08, {Source Drink and Stay Alive]
As a driving instructor my view is that the limit should be zero not even .02 we as instructors need to be .00 whilst teaching people to drive. Supervising drivers need to be under .05 and it was not that long ago that the law was changed to implement that restriction.
Anything and everything that the State Government can do to decrease the carnage on our roads should be done let us bite the bullet and make the hard but safer decision.
Changes To Victorian Road law as Of November 2009
The new road rules will be effective from 9 November 2009, the changes will improve road safety and make road rules more consistent across Australia.
The Key Changes are:
Line Marking {centre driving line}
Seatbelts
Parking
Mobile phones and visual display units
Motorcyclists
Cyclists
Wheeled recreational devices
Driving with trams
Drivers and Riders {other rules] Visit
Child Restraints *announced in may 2009
For full reference to road rule changes visit www.vicroads.vic.gov.au
David’s advice finding a Driving School
It’s important that you select a driving school that has been operating for some time and is affiliated with or belongs to The Australian Driver Trainers Association Of Victoria. The Driving School industry is made up of single operators, small to medium operators 1-10 vehicles and major players.You need a driving instructor who is skilled in manner and people skills and enabled to impart knowledge and create a calm and structured learning experience.
120 HOURS: IS THE MESSAGE GETTING THROUGH?
120 HOURS: IS THE MESSAGE GETTING THROUGH?
LEARNER DRIVERS AND DRIVING PRACTICE
Probationary drivers are over-represented in crashes, particularly in their first year of solo
driving. Studies have shown that a minimum of 120 hours supervised driving practice as
a learner is associated with reduced risk of crashing in the first year of solo driving.
VicRoads, TAC and other bodies have implemented programs to encourage and facilitate
the accumulation of 120 hours of supervised driving practice. Beginning in 1999,
VicRoads and TAC commissioned a series of surveys to evaluate the success of these
programs. Each survey samples a cross-section of learner and newly licenced drivers at
different stages of the learner permit period. Responses are used to estimate learner
drivers’ hours of supervised driving practice and professional lessons. The results of the
2004 survey stated that estimated total of hours of supervised driving has risen
substantially since the first survey, and this paper demonstrates where the increases
have occurred as well as charting the variety of driving experience accumulated.
Respondents’ exposure to and perceived helpfulness of the programs is assessed.
Hindrances to practice, attitudes towards supervised practice, and respondents’ thoughts
on what would encourage more practice are also reported.
Introduction
Probationary drivers are over-represented in crashes, particularly in their first year of solo
driving (VicRoads 2006). For more than three decades, the problem of inexperience has been
recognised as a primary contributing factor to crash involvement for novice drivers (see for
example: Pelz & Schuman 1971, Spolander 1983, Levy 1990, Drummond et al. 1993, Cavallo &
Triggs 1996 [cited in Gregersen 2000]).
Studies have shown that a minimum of 120 hours supervised driving practice as a learner is
associated with a 30% reduction in risk of crashing in the first two years of solo driving
(Gregersen 2000). VicRoads, TAC and RACV have implemented programs to encourage and
facilitate the accumulation of 120 hours of supervised driving practice. These include:
• VicRoads’ Keys Please seminars
• VicRoads’ Getting There: from Ls to Ps booklet
• VicRoads’ L Site website
• VicRoads’ Learners Log webpage
• TAC HELP Information Pack
• TAC Drive Smart CD ROM
• RACV Parent Plus driving school program.
TAC has also implemented advertising campaigns on television, radio, print media and roadside
billboards emphasising the importance of 120 hours of supervised practice.
Commencing in 1999, VicRoads and TAC commissioned a series of surveys to evaluate how
successful these programs have been in increasing the number of hours that learner drivers
spend in supervised driving practice. The surveys were conducted in 1999, 2000, 2004 and
2005. ARRB has published reports for the surveys conducted up to 2004 (see Catchpole &
Stephenson 2001, Catchpole & Coutts 2002, Catchpole & Pyta 2005). This paper reports on the
changes in the number of hours of supervised practice accumulated by learner drivers observed
in the 2004 survey. Respondents’ exposure to and perceived helpfulness of the programs are
assessed. Hindrances to practice, attitudes towards supervised practice, and respondents’
thoughts on what would encourage more practice are also reported.
Method
Sample
The sample consisted of 1322 learner permit holders and 209 newly licenced drivers. The
sample of current learner permit holders was stratified by length of time holding the learner
permit. Both the samples of current learner permit holders and newly licenced drivers were
stratified by region, sex and age when the learner permit was acquired.
There are naturally fewer learners living outside of Melbourne and fewer learners in the first two
stages of the learner permit period. To obtain reliable estimates of driving experience for these
groups, they were deliberately over-sampled. The survey response data was weighted prior to
analysis to account for this over-sampling and to ensure the results were representative of all
Victorian learner permit holders.
Design
The study is cross-sectional as it samples at one point in time a cross-section of learner drivers
during four ‘stages’ of the learner permit period. The stages are defined as:
Stage 1: 1-91 days after obtaining a learner permit (first 3 months)
Stage 2: 92-212 days after obtaining a learner permit (4th to 7th months)
Stage 3: 213-1461 days after obtaining a learner permit (balance of the first 4 years)
Final stage: last 28 days before acquiring a probationary licence.
Survey Procedure
Roy Morgan Research recruited and interviewed respondents for the surveys. VicRoads
supplied Roy Morgan with quotas based on the desired stratified sample and the name and
address of 16,496 current learner permit holders and 2782 newly licenced drivers. The surveys
were conducted using Computer Assisted Telephone Interviewing.
Analysis procedure
The average amount of driving experience accumulated by drivers over the whole learner permit
period was calculated by:
1. Identifying people in stages 1 to 3 who might actually be in the final stage of the learner
permit period and then multiplying their weighting factor by 0.4081 to reduce their
influence (because these people spend more time practising per week).
2. Multiplying the average amount of driving per week during each stage by the average
amount of time spent in that stage to give an estimate of the amount of driving experience
accumulated in each stage.
3. Negating the bias which is present for stage 3 (people who spend less time in stage 3
also tend to do more driving per week in stage 3) by multiplying the estimated amount of
experience by a correction factor of 0.8982.
1 This weight was also calculated from data in the 1999 survey when the date of licence acquisition was available.
4. Adding together the estimates of the amount of driving experience accumulated in each
stage to give an estimate of the total accumulated hours of driving experience over the
whole learner permit period.
Results
Time holding a learner permit
The average time holding a learner permit was 82.7 weeks in 1999 and 83.9 weeks in 2000. In
2004, learner drivers held their learners permit for an average of 86.3 weeks before graduating
to a probationary licence.
Professional driving lessons
Time spent in professional driving lessons is generally low in the first three stages. Most
learners in this group reported not having had a lesson in the last four weeks, and the average
time spent in lessons for this group (including learners who had no lessons) was 4 to 7 minutes
per week. The average increases to 58 minutes per week in the last four weeks before they
attempt their licence test. On average:
• the total time spent in professional lessons over the whole learner permit period was 10.4
hours, a drop of 5% since the 2000 survey
• females spent more time in professional lessons than males
• learners from Melbourne spent more time in professional lessons than learners from the
rest of Victoria.
The latter two figures did not differ significantly between the 2000 and 2004 surveys.
Supervised driving practice
Time spent in supervised practice averaged 52 to 64 minutes per week in the first three stages,
increasing to 160 minutes per week in the final stage. In addition, 83-90% of learners reported
having undertaken supervised practice in the last week. On average:
• the total time spent in supervised practice over the whole learner permit period was 83.6
hours, an increase of 11% from the 2000 survey
• males spent more time in supervised practice per week than females in the first three
stages
• learners from Melbourne spent less time in supervised practice during the first three
stages but more time than country Victorians in the final stage.
Total driving experience
The total supervised driving experience over the whole learner permit period (comprising
professional lessons and supervised driving practice) averaged 94.1 hours, an increase of 9.5%
since 2000. On average, total driving time was:
• lower for females (82.7 hours) than for males (106.2 hours)
• lower for Melbourne learners (90.1 hours) than for residents of provincial centres (96.8
hours) and the rest of Victoria (112.0 hours)
• substantially higher for learners who acquired their permit at age 16 (124.8 hours) versus
at age 17 (71.0 hours) versus at age 18 to 20 (57.5 hours).
2 This correction factor was calculated for the 1999 survey when VicRoads was able to supply information about the
date of licence acquisition. From 2000 onwards, VicRoads was unable to supply this information, and so the correction
factor calculated in 1999 has been applied to subsequent years’ data.
Proportionately, experience was gained through 11% professional lessons and 89% supervised
practice. The proportion of experience gained through professional lessons was higher for:
• females than males
• learners from Melbourne than learners from the rest of Victoria
• learners who acquired their permit at age 17 or 18 to 20 years than those who acquired
the permit at 16.
Variety of driving conditions experienced
Compared with the 2000 survey, the variety of driving conditions that learner drivers were
exposed to increased by a statistically significant 25% in stage 3 (although the changes in the
other stages were smaller and not significant). Country Victorians generally gained greater
variety of experience than Melbourne learners and male learners generally gained greater
variety of experience than female learners in the first three stages.
Recognising the importance of supervised experience
When asked how many hours of experience they believed a learner needs to accumulate before
attempting the probationary licence test, 33-45% answered in the 101-150 hour range. Around
half of all learners reported that they kept a record of their driving practice, and there were
significant increases since 2000 in the number of learners keeping record of their driving
practice across three of the four stages.
Programs to increase learner driver experience
The programs are listed in order of greatest audience exposure:
• VicRoads’ Getting There: from Ls to Ps booklet
– information for supervising drivers and learners regarding safely and effectively
managing the process of learning to drive
– 73-81% of respondents received the booklet
– considered helpful by 59-70% of those who received it, but 15-20% said they had not
read it
• TAC HELP Information Pack
– information for supervising drivers and learners regarding safely and effectively
managing the process of learning to drive
– 45-67% of respondents had received the pack
– 42-64% of those found it helpful
• VicRoads’ Keys Please seminars
– dissemination of information to supervising drivers and learners regarding safely and
effectively managing the process of learning to drive
– 24% of respondents had attended by stage 3
– considered helpful by 87-100% of those who attended
• VicRoads’ L Site website
– interactive quizzes prompting learners to think about how their driving is progressing
and practical advice about how to improve their driving
– 11-25% of respondents had visited the website
– 71-83% of those who visited the site found it helpful
• TAC Drive Smart CD ROM
– interactive driving scenarios and quizzes designed to help learners make safe
judgements and improve real-world driving skill
– 9-25% % of respondents had used the CD ROM program
– 66-81% of those found it helpful
• TAC Learners Log webpage
– interactive website allowing learners to keep record of the hours and variety of
supervised practice they do
– 1-5% of respondents had visited the website
– 72-87% of those who visited the site found it helpful
• RACV Parent Plus driving school program
– a learner who has professional lessons with RACV DriveSchool can receive one lesson
free of charge if they bring a parent along for their lesson
– 0-3% of learners had taken part in the program.
Hindrances to practice
Most respondents (68%) reported that there was nothing limiting their involvement in
professional lessons, although a moderate proportion reported that lessons were too expensive
(10%) or that they didn’t have time for lessons (13%).
Similarly, most respondents (67%) reported that there was nothing limiting their involvement in
supervised practice; although a moderate number stated that they were too busy (18%).
Respondents who were living with at least one parent were much more likely to obtain the
learner permit at age 16, to report that their usual supervisor is a parent and to have two or
more cars and two or more supervisors available for practice. They also averaged more hours
practising per week, and were less likely to report hindrances to practice.
Attitudes towards supervised practice
When asked what would reduce the number of probationary driver crashes, 21-34% of
respondents recognised more driving practice as learners as an important protective factor.
Encouraging more supervised practice
When asked what would encourage learners to do more supervised practice, one third were
unable to answer, and the most popular responses were to allow more time and more access to
a car.
Discussion
There were some encouraging trends revealed in the 2004 survey. A moderate increase in
hours of driving experience prior to attempting the probationary licence test was observed. This
increase was the result of increases in the average time for which the learner permit is held and
increases in the average time spent practising per week in stage three. The variety of driving
conditions experienced also increased significantly.
Exposure to the programs intended to encourage and facilitate new drivers to accumulate their
120 hours of supervised driving practice was good. Most respondents were aware of at least
one of the programs, and most found them useful. Although these results are encouraging,
causation cannot be definitively attributed to them, as we cannot control for other potential
influencing factors.
There are some methodological issues to allow for when considering these results. Firstly, the
sampling method was changed in 2004 to be stratified on the respondent’s age when they
obtained their learners permit, where previously it had been stratified on the respondent’s age at
the time of the survey. This change occurred because results from the 1999 and 2000 surveys
revealed that the total driving experience accumulated by learner permit holders is closely
related to their age at the time of obtaining the learners permit.
Some systematic sampling bias may also have occurred due to potential respondents not being
available when the interviewers attempted to call. This rate was higher for newly licenced
drivers than learners. In future surveys, a higher call back rate will be stipulated for newly
licenced drivers.
This survey used a cross-sectional method to estimate total driving experience over the whole
learner permit period. Another method is simply to ask newly licenced drivers to estimate their
total driving experience. When these two methods were compared, the results showed that the
latter method tended to overestimate total driving experience by about 39% when compared
with the cross-sectional method. Therefore, simply asking newly licenced drivers to recall their
total practice is not a reliable method of gauging the total supervised driving experience
accumulated. It is possible that this over-estimate is influenced by a desire on the part of newly
licenced drivers to meet the ideal 120 hours of practice which is prominent in TAC advertising.
Importantly, the surveys reveal potential target audiences who would benefit most from
increased attention in future programs. These include:
• learners who do not get the learner permit until age 17 or older
• learners not living with a parent
• females
• learners living in Melbourne.
References
Catchpole, J and Coutts, M 2002, Continued monitoring of driving experience among learner
drivers: 1999-2000, Research Report ARR 357, ARRB Transport Research, Vermont South Vic.
Catchpole, J and Pyta, V 2004, Learner driver experience monitoring 2004, Research Report
365, ARRB Group, Vermont South Vic.
Catchpole, J and Stephenson, W 2001, Monitoring driving experience among learner drivers,
Research Report ARR 355, ARRB Transport Research, Vermont South, Vic.
Gregersen, NP 2000, ‘Sixteen years age limit for learner drivers in Sweden – an evaluation of
safety effects’, Accident Analysis & Prevention 32(1) pp.25-35.
VicRoads 2006, Young Driver Safety and Graduated Licensing Program: Discussion Paper,
viewed 10 August 2006
<http://www.arrivealive.vic.gov.au/downloads/Youngdriver_discussion/YDS_v10_web.pdf>,
VicRoads, Kew, Victoria.
Source: Victoria Pyta, ARRB Group, victoria.pyta@arrb.com.au
And
John Catchpole, ARRB Group, john.catchpole@arrb.com.au
Guide for Learners – Driving Schools
Please click here to read full article and open brochure.
Source: VIC ROADS
Speeding. What a sensation!! Driving School Warns
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 hances 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?
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.
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.
The faster you go, the less time
you have to see hazards,
assess the risk and respond.
Even though you may be a
capable driver, extra speed
always means it takes longer
for the vehicle to stop.
In wet conditions you should
allow much more distance to
stop than on a dry road.
The more distance you keep
from other vehicles on the
road, the better your chances
are of avoiding a crash.
All drivers make mistakes at
times. If you stay at least three
seconds behind the vehicle in
front, you will have time to
react to unexpected situations.
You will also be a lot more
visible to oncoming drivers and
better positioned to see any
vehicles ahead of the one in
front of you.
Do you feel the pressure
to go fast?
Don’t worry if others expect you
to go fast. You are in control of
the car and ultimately you are
the one to face the
consequences of speeding.
Can you afford the costs of
speeding (points and licence
loss, $$s and injury)?
Even if you don’t crash or get
fined, higher speeds and hard
acceleration will cost you extra
money every time you fill your
petrol tank.
Next time you see a person
speeding in and out of traffic,
check out where they are at the
next change of lights or
intersection. Chances are they
are beside you. Speeding can
really only save you a few
seconds or minutes in a total
journey – so it’s not worth the
risk.
Annoyed that someone has
pushed into the gap that you
have left between you and the
next car? Just make another
gap. It’s cheaper and less
hassle than crashing into their
car!
Speeding in an urban area is as dangerous as driving with an
illegal blood alcohol concentration. In a 60 km/h zone, even
travelling at 5 km/h above the limit increases your chances of
having a serious crash as much as driving with a blood alcohol
concentration of 0.05.
Motor vehicle crashes are the leading
cause of death among young
Australians aged 16–25 years.
Fact:
The risk of being involved
in a fatal or serious crash
is much higher for young
drivers when there are
passengers – particularly
when the passengers are
around the same age and
when there is more than
one.
Why is this so?
Having your friends in the car
can:
• Distract you when you have
not fully mastered or
automated your driving
skills.
• Encourage riskier driving
behaviours – such as
driving after drinking
alcohol, speeding, swerving,
and following too close.
• Tempt you to show off your
driving skills.
Here are some tips:
• It isn’t easy to tell your friends that you
won’t give them all a lift home from a
party – so practise some believable
excuses before the end of the night.
‘Mum only loaned the car to me on
condition that I come straight home.’
• Leave the car at home and share a taxi
with your friends.
• If you want to take a friend or friends,
keep the number to a minimum. The
more passengers you have, the riskier
the trip becomes.
• When offering friends a lift, remember
that you are the driver and in control of
the car. Take them on the condition that
they are helpful rather than distracting.
Ask them to: help out with directions;
not fiddle with knobs and dials; not to
point out things unrelated to the driving
task (e.g. good looking pedestrians!!).
• If your friend is driving, allow them to
concentrate on the driving – try to help
by spotting hazards in and around the
road.
During driving practice
• For the first 10 hours of supervised
practice, keep the radio off and
passengers either out of the car or
down to a minimum, and silent.
• As you become more confident and
capable as a learner driver, start
allowing passengers and other
distractions into the car. But be
assertive and ask for silence when
things get busy or difficult.
After you get your Ps
• Avoid taking passengers for the first
few unsupervised drives. You will be
surprised how much more challenging
driving is on your own than when your
supervisor was taking up some of the
workload.
• Be in control of every trip you make –
resist the temptation to show off your
driving skills to your friends or other
road users.
For the complete article please read here: ATSB
THE NEW PRACTICAL DRIVE TEST
· The new drive test is being introduced as part of the new Graduated Licensing System (GLS) to:
oBetter assess the ability of licence applicants to handle the demands of solo driving as P1 driver; and
o Motivate learners to better prepare for their Ps by getting 120 hours driving experience in a wide variety of driving conditions.
· The new test:
o Is longer than the current test;
o Provides a better picture of a licence applicant’s driving ability;
o Incorporates a more thorough assessment system;
o Has Immediate termination errors;
o Introduces scoring of critical errors;
o Is made up of two parts which separate less challenging and more challenging driving tasks;
o Involved extensive trialing with learners with varying levels of experience; and
o Is unique to Victoria and is evidence-based.
· Applicants still need to pass the Hazard Perception Test before taking the drive test.
WHY WAS A NEW DRIVE TEST REQUIRED?
· The new drive test is an important part of GLS and is needed to help support the 120 hour requirement for learner drivers. 120 hours has been shown to significantly reduce crashes.
· Key objectives of the new drive test are to:
· Help discriminate between learners with and without 120 hours;
· Motivate learners to get at least 120 hours in a variety of conditions;
· Replace the current test (POLA) which was developed at a time when most learners had low levels of supervised experience;
· Complement the current HPT;
· Introduce a new test which sets the bar higher and is designed to assess more experienced learners; and
· Better assess the ability of licence applicants to handle the demands of solo driving as a P1 driver.
HOW WAS THE NEW TEST DEVELOPED?
· Developed over 18 months from the results of trials with 1300 learners with a range of driving experience;
· Developed by VicRoads with assistance from road safety and test development experts;
· Not based on opinions but based on evidence; and
· Process was scientific and used:
o best research from Australia and overseas
o causes of crashes for newly licenced drivers
o extensive trials with learners
o input by testers and driving instructors
o occupational health and safety as a key consideration in the design of the test.
TEST OVERVIEW
· 30 minute on-road test (previously 15-20 minutes).
· Has two parts:
o Part 1 – takes 10 minutes and has 7 driving tasks in less challenging driving conditions. Applicants must pass Part 1 before they are permitted to attempt Part 2.
o Part 2 – takes 20 minutes and consists of 14 to 21 day-to-day driving tasks in a range of realistic traffic conditions.
o Applicants must pass both parts of the test to obtain their probationary licence.
SCORING
· The outcome of the drive test does not depend on a single test score – it depends on the number of Immediate Termination Errors, Critical Errors and performance on the specific driving tasks.
· The test scoring involves:
o Immediate Termination Errors – where the applicant does something to create an unsafe situation. This results in the applicant immediately failing the drive test and the test being terminated.
o Critical Errors – where the applicant makes a serious driving error which does not create any immediate danger. Repetition of this behaviour(s) will fail the applicant and terminate the test.
§ Only 2 critical errors are allowed over the course of the test, if a 3rd occurs the applicant immediately fails and the test is terminated.
§ During Part 1 of the test (less challenging driving conditions), only 1 critical error is allowed, if a 2nd error occurs during this part of the test the applicant immediately fails and the test is terminated.
o In addition, to the Immediate Termination Errors and Critical Errors, points are also awarded for correctly and safely demonstrating key driving skills when completing specific driving tasks.
PASSING THE NEW TEST
· The practical drive test checks that licence applicants can:
o Drive safely;
o Control a vehicle smoothly;
o Obey the road rules; and
o Co-operate with other road users.
· Learners are more likely to pass the practical drive test if they:
o Have had more than 120 hours of supervised driving experience;
o Have had supervised driving experience in a broad range of different conditions – such as at night, in wet weather, and on different types of roads; and
o Can drive safely and legally in different driving situations – such as normal and busy traffic, at intersections and on multilane roads.
LOG BOOK CHECKING
· Log Books will be checked by a VicRoads Licence Testing Officer (LTO) at the start of the drive test appointment before the applicant is taken out in the vehicle.
· All licence applicants who obtained their learner permit on or after 1 July 2007 and are under 21 at the time they sit for their probationary licence test must present a completed Log Book i.e. 120 hours (including 10 hours at night).
· Learners who are aged 21 or older or obtained their permit before 1 July 2007 – do not have to present a Log Book.
· Log Book entries must be completed in pen. Blue and black is preferable (as requested in the Log Book), however any pen colour will be accepted if the entry is legible (i.e. the VicRoads LTO can understand the log entry).
LOG BOOK SCENARIOS
· Pass Log Book Check / Pass Drive Test
o If an applicant meets all the requirements of the Log Book check and passes the Drive Test (and other requirements associated with the appointment), they will be issued with a P1 probationary licence.
· Pass Log Book Check / Fail Drive Test
o If an applicant meets all the requirements of the Log Book check and fails the Drive Test, the log book results will be recorded.
o The applicant is not required to re-present their Log Book, when re-sitting for their Drive Test.
· Fail Log Book Check
o If an applicant fails to meet all the requirements of the Log Book check then they are unable to undertake Drive Test.
o The applicant forfeits their Drive Test appointment, all test fees and must wait at least 6 weeks before they can attempt another test.
o The applicant must re-present their completed Log Book, when presenting for their next test.
Source: VIC ROADS, Driving Instructor Industry Update, 06-2008
Key Dates To Protect Young Drivers
KEY DATES
2007
1 January ALCOHOL INTERLOCKS INTRODUCED FOR YOUNG FIRST TIME OFFENDERS From 1 January 2007, a probationary driver or any driver under 26, caught for a drink driving offence involving a blood alcohol concentration (BAC) of .07 or higher, will have an alcohol interlock fitted to their car when they return to driving. If the interlock detects any alcohol on a driver’s breath, the car won’t start.
1 July NEW LEARNER PERMIT RULES INTRODUCED From 1 July 2007, a learner driver (under 21) must stay on their learner permit for at least 12 months before they can apply for their probationary licence. They also have to carry their permit whenever they drive.
1 July 120 HOURS OF SUPERVISED DRIVING From 1 July 2007, a learner driver (under 21) must have logged at least 120 hours of supervised driving, including a minimum of 10 hours night driving, before they can apply for a P1 probationary licence.
1 July
NEW RESTRICTIONS ON DRIVING HIGH POWERED VEHICLESFrom 1 July 2007, new restrictions make it easier for probationary drivers to identify the car they can legally drive.
2008
1 July NEW ON ROAD DRIVING TEST
1 July A NEW TWO STAGE PROBATIONARY LICENCE WILL BEGINThe current single probationary licence will be replaced by a one year P1 probationary licence (red plate), followed by a three year P2 probationary licence (green plate).
1 July PASSENGER RESTRICTION FOR P1 DRIVERFrom 1 July 2008, a P1 driver can only carry one passenger aged between 16 and 21.
For under 21s – Extra probationary licence stage means 2 P plates
If you get your Ps from 1 July 2008, and you are under 21, you will now have an extra probationary licence stage. In other words, it’s an extra P plate.
As part of Victoria’s new graduated licensing system, there will be two probationary licence stages: a one year P1 (red plates) stage, followed by a three year P2 (green plates) stage.
You will need a good driving record to progress from P1 to P2, then to a full licence.
Any licence suspension, or other serious offence, will add six months to the probationary period, plus the period of suspension.
NEW P1 AND P2 PROBATIONARY LICENCES
P1 Licences (Red Plate)
From 1 July 2008, the new P1 licences will be issued and everyone applying for a probationary licence will need to pass a hazard perception test and an on road driving test. (Drivers with a probationary licence issued before 1 July 2008 will be covered by the current system.)
Probationary drivers aged under 21 years, when first licenced, must hold a P1 licence for a minimum of 12 months. During this time all mobile phone use is banned and there is a restriction on towing unless for work or they are under instruction.
Probationary drivers who are aged 21 years or older when first licenced will move directly to a P2 licence.
What’s different about a P1?
P1 requirements include…
Must stay on a P1 licence for at least 12 months
No mobile phone use of any kind.
P1 driver can only carry one passenger aged between 16 and 21.
No towing (unless for work or if under instruction).
Restrictions on driving high powered vehicles
Drink driving offenders may have an alcohol interlock fitted to their vehicle
Any licence suspension, drink driving offence with a blood alcohol concentration (BAC) up to 0.05, or drug driving offence will result in an extension of the P1 licence period for six months, plus the period of suspension.
If the P1 licence is suspended, a passenger limit of one will apply for the remainder of the P1 period.
Other existing P provisions will also apply.
What’s different about a P2?
P2 requirements include…
A three year minimum
Restrictions on driving high powered vehicles
Drink driving offenders may have an alcohol interlock fitted to their vehicle.
Any licence suspension will result in an extension of the P2 period by six months, plus the period of suspension.
Other existing P provisions will also apply
(Source: Arrive Alive Mail Out 17 June 2008 and website)
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)
