Driving With Trams
Road Law and When You Should Give Way to Trams in Melbourne, Australia
Trams may seem a bit troublesome to drivers at times, but it’s worthwhile to consider what a valuable addition they are to Melbourne. They help to reduce traffic congestion on the roads by offering people an alternative way to travel, and they provide a safe, environmentally friendly way to cross the city. Make sure you are familiar with the rules concerning trams on the road, not only to avoid an expensive fine but also to keep everyone safe and happy as they travel.
Recognising Tramways
You will recognise a tramway because it will have overhead signs that say, ‘Tram Only’ and two solid yellow lines or raised dividing strips beside the tram tracks. Do not drive in a tramway or cross the raised dividing strips unless you need to avoid an obstacle. Otherwise, you could be fined $117.
Recognising Tram Lanes
Tram lanes have overhead signs that say, ‘Tram Lane,” and a solid yellow line beside the tram tracks. Some tram lanes are full-time, and some are part-time, in which case a sign will tell you at what times it is a tram lane. When it is outside these hours, you can drive in the tram lane.
If you need to turn right or avoid something in the road, you can drive in a tram lane for up to 50 metres. Only do so if you will not cause any delay to a tram. If you drive in a tram lane, you could be fined $117. If there are breaks in the dividing strips, you can drive through, but you must give way to trams or vehicles already on the road you are entering.
Waiting Behind a Tram
It is against the law to pass a tram when it has stopped and opened its doors. If you try to pass a tram when it has stopped, you could well be reported to Victoria Police. Be aware that they will take action!
If you are behind a tram and it stops and opens its doors, you must wait. Stay level with the rear of the tram until it has closed its doors and all of the passengers have cleared the road before you proceed. Once the doors are closed and it is safe, you can pass a stationary tram at a tram stop but you must not go any faster than 10km/h. You could be fined $292 for failure to adhere to these rules.
Safety Zones
Safety Zones are located near a tram stop and are clearly marked with a yellow sign. There will be a traffic island to protect pedestrians. You can pass a tram that is stopped at a safety zone; proceed at a slow, safe speed, be aware of pedestrians, and drive to the left of the safety zone.
Sharing the Road with Trams
Do not move into the path of an approaching tram. When you come to a roundabout, give way to all trams. If you fail to do so, you risk a fine of $204. Do not move into the path of a tram or you could be fined $117.
The Melbourne Hook Turn
When driving in Melbourne, be aware of the hook turn, a maneuver designed to keep the center of the road clear for trams. The hook turn only applies in the CBD; since cars are not allowed in tram lanes, it is not possible to have dedicated lanes for turning right. Instead, when you want to turn right, you do so from the left with the help of the traffic lights. Indicate right but stay left while your light is green so traffic and trams can pass. As your lights turn red, you complete your right turn. Remember to keep clear of the pedestrian crossings.
You must not make a U-turn across a solid line in the centre of the road or you could face a fine of $233.
Do not park near tram stops. Park at least 20 metres away, unless a sign permits parking nearer to the tram stop. The fine for parking too close is $117.
The fine for double parking is $70.
These are the current laws in Melbourne at the time of writing. Remember to adhere to them at all times to keep yourself safe, as well as other road users, pedestrians, and people using the trams. Thanks for reading and enjoy driving around Melbourne!
References:
http://www.yarratrams.com.au/using-trams/tram-safety/driving-with-trams/
https://www.vicroads.vic.gov.au/safety-and-road-rules/road-rules/a-to-z-of-road-rules/trams
Driving Lesson Guarantee
Driving Lesson Guarantee
Learning a new skill – especially one as useful for your life and career as driving – shouldn’t be a chore. As a new learner, we want you to experience the same passion and excitement for driving as we do, and we want to accompany you as your confidence grows behind the wheel.
We feel that, if you are to progress as a driver, that progression needs to take place in a pressure-free environment, where we can nurture your driving skills in partnership with you, and at your own pace. You never know – it might even be fun!
This is why we offer our driving lesson guarantee, to ensure that our clients are getting the very best out of our service and to make sure that we stay on top of our game, both as driving instructors and also as personal mentors.
Our Guarantee
Our guarantee is a simple one: we provide you enjoyable and informative driver training, or you don’t pay!
This might seem like a big risk on our part, but it simply represents our commitment to our clients. All our services are completely client-focussed, and are specifically developed to give people of any background a reliable pathway to get them driving.
We believe that the best way to learn is to enjoy yourself, while also taking on vital information from one of our expert tutors, and this is why we put our money where our mouths are. If you don’t feel comfortable, you are not enjoying your tuition, or you are not learning anything, just don’t pay! It is as straightforward as that!
But our guarantee also represents something else; it represents our confidence in our services. We have worked hard to hone our services and to train our instructors not only to teach you the driving skills you need, but also to work closely with you in boosting your confidence and helping you enjoy your experience.
We are confident that you will, and that, with our help, you will be able to make great leaps in pursuing your driving career. Remember, wherever you are based in Melbourne’s eastern suburbs, the Eastern Suburbs Driving School can give you the boost you need to get driving.
Our Service
In order for us at Eastern Suburbs Driving School to get paid, we need to make sure we are really bringing our A-game! So, how do we accomplish this? We begin by designing all our lessons with the client in mind, giving them hands-on driving experience in a safe and positive environment.
Next, we ensure effective and ongoing training for our instructors, ensuring that they are not only well versed in matters of the road, but are also able to deliver information and tuition with warmth, kindness, patience and clarity. It is the interpersonal skills displayed by our instructors that we are most proud of, and which help our students get the best results.
Finally, we must check and re-check the entire process, ensuring that our customers and clients are receiving the very best in driver training. The proof of our effectiveness is found in our impressive pass rate and our almost unparalleled levels of customer satisfaction.
Our Ethos
All of this fits in neatly with our ethos, which is to give Melbourne’s learner drivers the best possible experience when they are learning to drive, and to help them gain the confidence they need to drive effectively.
We would love for you to test out our services, and with a money back guarantee like this one, what have you got to lose?
Get in touch with us today on 03-9722-9684 or visit our contact page to learn more about what we can offer.
Hazard Perception Test –
For Driving Lessons
When you’re driving, you need to observe the environment and quickly respond to hazards that may appear unexpectedly. The Hazard Perception Test is a computer based test that you must pass before you do the driving test. It has 28 scenarios and you have 45 minutes to complete this test. The pass mark for this test is 54%.
If you follow this guide, you should not have any difficulty in understanding and passing this test.
- Attempt All 4 practice items at the start and if you get any of these wrong repeat all 4
- Read the instructions carefully so that you understand what is required.
- Check your speed on the Speedo on the monitor.
- Assess what the hazard is and when you need to react.
- React to the hazard as per the instructions.
- Don’t panic and react before the hazard eventuates.
- Don’t wait until you almost crash before reacting.
- There are some items where No reaction is required.
Nervous Drivers
Nervous Drivers Are Our Specialty
A great driver is a confident driver, but confidence comes with experience, and experience comes with time. Fortunately, Eastern Suburbs Driving School specialises in helping nervous drivers put in the time, gain the experience and develop the skills necessary to achieve that confidence.
We make it our mission to ensure that those who are looking for driving lessons in Melbourne, but who are also experiencing a few nerves and jitters, are not put off by this and can achieve their goal of becoming a confident and skillful driver.
How We Can Help
Anyone who is learning a new skill is going to experience a few nerves at some point, and this is only natural. Understandably, the nerves associated with learning to drive can be a little more intense than usual.
Those early driving experiences can be incredibly overwhelming and nerve-wracking, and there are many reasons why novice drivers feel nervous when getting behind the wheel. We’ve outlined a few of the most commons ones below, along with some accompanying information about how Eastern Suburbs Driving School can help you to turn those nerves in energy for positive action.
No Driving Experience = No Confidence
Our instructors are not only highly trained in the art of driving tuition, but also have excellent interpersonal skills. Empathy, patience and friendliness are all key characteristics of a good teacher in any field, and driving is certainly no exception. Because of this, our instructors will be able to coach you competently and with warmth, gently giving you the confidence you need to drive effectively.
The Open Road Is a Scary Place
To a non-driver or a relative novice, high levels of traffic and complicated interchanges and junctions can make the process of driving a scary and overwhelming one. Our team take the fear out of driving by fostering confidence and self-belief in novice learners, helping them progress quickly. Overcoming fear is all about knowing that you have the tools to deal with any problems you might face; Eastern Suburbs Driving School can give you those tools.
There Is So Much to Learn
Learning the rules of the road and gaining your 120 hours’ worth of driving experience means learning a lot in a relatively short time. This is why our courses and lessons are specifically designed
to help you to take all that fresh information on board, without getting too overwhelmed. What’s more, our service is incredibly comprehensive and our range of add-on courses and extras help novice drivers become confident road users in no time.
Why We Are the Best
Our family-run driving school is renowned for its positive and friendly atmosphere, making us the ideal choice for novice drivers seeking to overcome their nerves in a warm and supportive environment. We also know Melbourne like the backs of our hands, which means that we can offer support, guidance and hands-on driving experience directly to you, wherever you are located within
the city and its surrounding suburbs. Looking for driver training from Belgrave to Monbulk and Canterbury to Tremont? We’ve got you covered!
All our drivers are fully accredited and have received the driver training Certificate 4, and so the quality of our service is guaranteed. You don’t spend 25 years at the top of driving school tree by accident, and our thousands previous and current clients can vouch for our expertise, both in terms of driving and in tuition.
Would you like to experience the benefit of an Eastern Suburbs Driving School course? Contact us today at 1300-888-082 to get started! Oh, and don’t forget to pay us a visit on Facebook.
Get Your Drivers Licence In Melbourne with our High Pass Rate!
Getting your drivers licence can be a challenge – our high pass rate improves your chances dramatically! Wherever you go for your drive test, be it Burwood, Mooroolbark or anywhere else, we’ll be there to make sure you perform your best. We offer lessons and accompanying instructors for drive tests at affordable rates.
Getting to 120 hours is only part of the picture – what you really need is 120 good hours. What you learn on the roads whilst on your learner’s permit will set you up for a lifetime of driving – if the right lessons don’t sink in, your driving skills may be compromised with serious or even fatal consequences.
Eastern Suburbs Driving School boasts a high first-time pass rate for all of its students, and aims to equip its students with all the tools they need to be safe, efficient drivers. Many students choose to take their drive test in Burwood thanks to its central location and capacity. Depending on your location, we can arrange driving lessons in the area so that you’ll be prepared when the big day arrives. We also have extensive experience with Mooroolbark, another popular testing location. Get to know the streets before you head out for your drive test.
What’s more, our instructors can accompany you during your test for an additional sense of guidance and security. Prior to the test, your instructor will endeavour to get you in the right mindset for success. Remember, the drive test is the culmination of everything that you have learned during your time as a learner driver. Don’t muck it up – call Eastern Suburbs Driving School today, and find out what we can do to help you get your licence!
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
Suburbs Areas
Popular Driving Lessons Areas:
Abbotsford | Albert Park | Ashburton | Ashwood | Balwyn | Balwyn North | Bayswater | Bayswater North | Belgrave | Belgrave Heights | | Bentleigh | Blackburn | Blackburn North | Blackburn South | Boronia | Box Hill | Box Hill North | Box Hill South | Burnley | Burwood | Burwood East | Camberwell | Canterbury | Caulfield | Chadstone | Cheltenham | Clayton | Croydon | Croydon Hills | Croydon North | Croydon South | Doncaster | Doncaster East | Donvale | Ferntree Gully | Glen Waverley | Glen Iris | Hawthorn | Heathmont | Hughesdale | Huntingdale | Kallista | Kalorama | Kew | Keysborough | Kilsyth | Knox | Kooyong | Kilsyth South | Lysterfield | Malvern | Melbourne | Menzies Creek | Middle Park | Mitcham | Monbulk | Mont Albert | Montrose | Mooroolbark | Mount Waverley | Mt Evelyn | Mulgrave | Nunawading | Oakleigh | Olinda | Park Orchards | Prahran | Richmond | Ringwood | Ringwood East | Ringwood North | Rowville | Sassa Fras | Scoresby | Selby | Silvan | South Yarra | St Kilda | Surrey Hills | Tecoma | Templestowe | Toorak | Tremont | Vermont | Victoria | Wantirna | Warrandyte | Warranwood | Wheelers Hill | Windsor | Wonga Park | Yarra Ranges | Australia
To see more our driving lesson areas, visit Suburb Area.
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!
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.
The Journey of a Young Learner Driver
It’s a fact that teenagers love independence. The thrill of breaking out into the world is universally appealing; going places, meeting people and building a life outside of school and home. Teens on the verge of adulthood, often around eighteen, are generally just finishing their studies and beginning to understand how the world works. There are just as many risks, of course, as there are assured benefits for these young men and women. Getting one’s first car is one of those great moments in any person’s life – not just as a practical means of transportation, but also as a symbol of freedom and independence. Once a teenager gets their P-plates, a brand new world is essentially opened up to them. They’re no longer relegated to the complicated realm of public transport or forced to bum rides off their parents, guardians or peers.
With such freedom, though, comes a considerable degree of responsibility. It’s a tragic fact of life that road fatalities are highest amongst drivers in their early twenties. This is often the result of inadequate road education. Learning road skills isn’t just about memorising the ‘highway code’ of road rules. It’s also about avoiding reckless behaviour, developing courtesy for other drivers and ultimately responsible driving. The best way to ingrain this kind of safe, rational driving attitude is through professional driving lessons, with a qualified instructor. At ESDS, for example, we teach skills that will stick with drivers for many years to come, ensuring safety on the road and sound behaviour. Explore our website for more.
Special Deals
We have a selection of special offers available for those who wish to book a series of lessons. These are a great way to start off the learning process, arranging for a progression of lessons that teach you new skills as you develop. If you are a parent of a young driver, these special deals provide excellent value for money as well as high quality of service.
Our promotional package deals can be found elsewhere on our website . Simply by browsing these pages, you are eligible for one of our package discounts. For example, if you buy five driving lessons, you can get one free. This represents a saving of $55. Or, book a series of ten lessons, and you can save an incredible $110. ESDS provides some of the best value for new drivers, as well as those needing to consolidate their skills for the final test. Peruse our special packages page, and quote one of the codes when booking your next group of lessons. It’s great value, and a convenient way to get quality instruction.
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.
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
Automatic Licences requests high advises Driving School
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
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)
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)
Professional Driving Lessons
It never ceases to amaze me that parents will spend an absolute fortune on educating their children via secondary colleges ,universities and other higher educational venues, including private tutors to help them along the way to a better education
and rightfully so.
Monies are also spent on pursuing higher levels of education in music tuition and sporting endeavours but the perception among
some, is that as far as driving is concerned near enough is good enough.
The number of times we as driving instructors hear that my son or daughter only needs to be taught how to park a vehicle
is alarming and of concern.
When assessing these people we find that the tuition and information given to be either inaccurate or out dated and in fact
dangerous.
This seems to stem from a culture of driving lessons are to expensive and not necessary, by some in the community ,
but when you factor in driving lessons, as a total package of a young persons overall education , it is money well spent.
What price to we put on the safety of our learner drivers ?
