Driving is a necessary form of transportation in this day and age. Driving in Australia and specifically in the state of Victoria requires one to become familiar with the roads, rules and necessary signage. Driving Schools provide the skills required to become a probationary licenced driver. In the state of Victoria almost every household owns a vehicle and this is considered to be one of the most common forms of commuting. One of the great advantages of driving in Victoria is the expansive roads and freeways that provide the means for driving from point A to point B.
The rules in Victoria can differ to other countries around the world and States and Territories in Australia and therefore it becomes imperative to learn the road rules and qualify for a licence to drive legally. Driving Schools provide lessons tailored to understanding the road rules as well as providing the technical skills required to drive a vehicle. Generally, these lessons are practical sessions that has the learner driver driving on roads both with and without traffic. In order to be eligible for driving lessons in the state of Victoria, a person must be of the minimum age of 16 years to qualify for a learners permit. Although at the age of 16 you can learn to drive, a person must be at least 18 years of age to qualify and obtain a probationary driving licence.
In order to obtain a learner's permit, the applicant must pass a learner permit test and eyesight test conducted by Vic Roads. Vic Roads is the Government's road authority organisation for the State of Victoria. A learner permit test is derived from the 'Road to Solo Driving Handbook'. Before sitting the learner permit test, the applicant is required to study this book. Upon completion, an appointment should be booked with Vic Roads to sit the learner permit test. The test contains 32 multiple-choice questions and requires a person to answer at least 25 or attain 78% to pass the test. A learner's permit is valid for 10 years and a fee of 55.50 Australian dollars will need to be paid prior to sitting the test.
Upon successful completion of the learner permit test, the learner driver is granted a legally binding permit to learn how to drive. A professional driving instructor from a driving school teaches the learner driver to drive an automatic or manual vehicle in Victoria. 'L' plates need to be displayed at all times while learning to drive. The driving instructor provides not only technical tips on turning, accelerating and braking but also provides the learner driver with safety tips that will help the learner driver stay safe after graduating from a learner driver.
After the learner driver completes a minimum 120 hours of driving in varying driving situations, the driving instructor will assess whether the learner driver has attained the required standard to sit the probationary drivers licence test ( practical driving test ). If the learner driver is 21 years of age or older and has held a learner's permit for at least 12 months, the 120 hours requirement does not apply.
Prior to undertaking the probationary drivers licence test (practical driving test), the learner driver has to pass a hazard perception test which is conducted at any VicRoads Driver Licencing office. When booking the hazard perception test with VicRoads, it is advisable to also make a booking for the probationary drivers licence test (practical driving test). However, it is strongly advised not to make the bookings for the hazard perception test for the same date of the probationary drivers licence test (practical driving test) in case the learner driver does not pass the hazard perception test. If unsure it is recommended that the learner driver consult with their relevant driving school.
During the probationary drivers licence test (practical driving test), a VicRoads Licence Testing Officer will accompany the learner driver and assess the learner driver 's ability to drive in traffic, follow road rules and complete a necessary parking exercise. If thelearner driver meets the requirements of the probationary drivers licence test (practical driving test), a 'P1' probationary licence is granted. The 'P1' probationary licence requires the probationary driver to drive with red 'P' plates for a period of 12 months and adhere to specific rules for 'P1' drivers. On completion of the 12 months, the probationary driver will graduate to a 'P2' probationary licence which requires the probationary driver to drive for 36 months while displaying green 'P' plates. Again the driver will be required to conform to a set of rules.
After completing a minimum of 5 years (1 year learners, 1 year P1 and 3 years P2), the driver has graduated to what can be deemed as a full driver's licence to drive in Victoria and any other state or territory in Australia. A full driver's licence allows the driver to drive a vehicle without having the need to display any 'P' plates.
Keys2 Drive is a Federal Government initiative which entitles a learner driver and their supervising driver(s) to a Free Lesson with a Keys2 Drive accredited driving instructor. The Free Lesson is designed to equip supervising drivers with both written and practical information on how the teach the learner driver. More information about the Free Lesson is available on the Keys2 Drive website.