Choosing a Driving School

Choosing professional driving instruction is one way to help ready yourself safely for the road.

A driver training course or high-school driver education program approved by the provincial government can teach you the skills and attitudes you need to be a safe and responsible driver. You may also be eligible to take your road test sooner and to save money on insurance premiums.

To help you choose the best driving school and course for you, use the following checklist of features:

• Course information package
• Audio visual equipment
• Classroom facilities
• In-vehicle topics covered
• Risk perception and management
• Driving in adverse conditions
• Instructor qualifications and experience
• Student progress and evaluation reports
• Minimum 25 classroom and 10 behind-
  the-wheel instruction hours
• Certification fee
• Tuition receipts
• Testimonials
• Personalized program
• Low student/teacher ratio
• Basic man oeuvres
• Strategic driving
• Freeway driving
• Night driving
• Regular instructor upgrading
• Certificate of completion
• Training materials
• Use of vehicle for road test
• Registered educational institution
• Number of years in business
• Consumer protection insurance

offences resulting in driving licence cancellation

Drink or drug driving offence
If your licence has been cancelled solely because of a drink or drug driving offence, your re-licensing requirements will vary depending on circumstances. The requirements are explained in the brochure Getting your licence back [PDF, 327KB, 12pp] . You may also be subjected to an alcohol interlock order as part of the re-issuing condition of your licence.

Other offences resulting in licence cancellation or driving disqualification
If your licence has been cancelled or you have been disqualified from driving because of one of the offences listed below, you must apply to the Court to have your licence restored to you. This is called a Licence Eligibility Order (LEO).

• Serious motor vehicle offence
• Police pursuit offence
• Stealing or attempting to steal a vehicle offence
• Non-road safety offence

Before you apply for an LEO, please ensure that all driving bans requiring a LEO have been completed before the LEO hearing.
For more information on what you are required to do in order to apply to become re-licensed, check out the Driver’s Licence Eligibility Guide on the Magistrate’s Court of Victoria website.
I’ve received my LEO from the Court – what next?
Once you have received your LEO from the court you will need to attend a VicRoads Customer Service Centre with your LEO to have your licence re-issued or to book your learner permit test.

If you have outstanding driving bans on your record, VicRoads will not be able to re-issue your licence until all outstanding bans have been served. If any of these outstanding bans require an LEO, you must return to Court to obtain an LEO at the end of these bans. It is therefore recommended that you serve all of your bans and obtain one LEO to cover all bans.

If you were found to have committed the offence under the influence of alcohol, on granting the LEO, the Court may order the imposition of an Alcohol Interlock condition on your licence or permit.
If you’re a probationary driver and your licence has been suspended due to a non-road safety offence, your probationary period will be extended by the same period as your suspension period.
Alcohol interlocks
The Court may impose a condition requiring an alcohol interlock device to be fitted to your vehicle for a period of time.

Information relating to the Alcohol Interlock can be found on the Alcohol Interlocks website.

Driver Education Programs and assessments
If you commit a drink driving or drug driving offence you may be required to complete an education course or obtain assessment reports to get your licence back or to avoid having your licence cancelled.

All drink drive assessments and courses are developed, administered and conducted by the Department of Human Services. www.darshandrivingschool.com.au

Road safety benefits

Road safety benefits
Research from around the world has shown that ISA can significantly reduce travel speeds and threfore crashes. Research undertaken by the TAC and MUARC in Australia estimates that ISA can reduce fatal and serious injury crashes by up to eight per cent.

VicRoads Repeat Speeders Trial
The results of a landmark study of Victorian motorists with a history of speeding has found that using speed alert devices can reduce speeding and potentially save lives.

VicRoads designed and conducted two trials; one involving repeat speeders attending a behaviour change discussion group, while the other used advisory ISA technology to warn drivers they were speeding. Researchers from the Monash University Accident Research Centre independently evaluated the trials.

Environmental benefits
Local and international research also indicates that the use of ISA produces fewer fluctuations in travel speed which results in a higher fuel efficiency and a subsequent decrease in vehicle emissions.

Some portable satellite navigation (GPS) devices already have speed limit information in them and can be set to provide a warning to drivers if they travel over the speed limit. www.darshandrivingschool.com.au

Road safety for children on skateboards, scooters and wheeled toys

Any wheeled device on the road is regarded the same as pedestrians under the road rules. This includes skateboards, rollerblades, children’s scooters, pedal cars or tricycles – any wheeled toys.

As well as general pedestrian rules, there are also additional rules that parents should know and ensure that their child not only knows, but understands. Most of the suggestions we outline for walking and road safety as well as bicycle road safety also apply to wheeled toys.

Below are some tips for children using a range of wheeled toys and devices near roads.

• Wheeled devices or toys cannotbe used:
  • on a road with a speed limit of more than 60 km/h
  • on a road with a dividing line or median strip or
  • on a one-way road with more than one marked lane
• They must keep to the left on footpaths and shared paths and give way to pedestrians.
• Unless a sign prohibits it, a person on roller blades, roller skates or a similar wheeled device can ride on a bicycle path or separated footpath designed for the use of bicycles, but must give way to any bicyclist.
• It is an offence (and extremely dangerous) to hold on to a moving vehicle
• Correct fitting helmets must be worn

Make sure your children know the road rules when they are using a skateboard or scooter or similar device with wheels. This means they are in the best position to prevent any injury to themselves or to others. www.darshandrivingschool.com.au

VicRoads Road Services deliver quality maintenance

Based in 23 centres around Victoria, Road Services staff cater to diverse geographical needs to ensure the road network is safe for local communities.

Our Services

We provide:

• 24/7 on-call support
• traffic management
• accident and emergency services

Routine, periodic and provisional maintenance

• routine pavement works
• pothole patching
• crack sealing
• roadside management
• vegetation maintenance
• drainage maintenance and improvements
• slip repairs, wire rope and guard rail installation and repairs
• rest area maintenance and cleaning
• debris removal
• road inspections.
  Construction services
  • pavement repairs (including digoutspavement reconstruction)
  • pavement sealing
  • public transport works
  • road safety improvement works
  • technical and design construction advice.

  Bridge work services

  • bridge inspections
  • treatments
  • emergency bridging
  • bridge maintenance

  Contact your local Road Services Operations Manager to discuss works requirements:

  • Metro North West (Deer Park)
  • Metro South East (Dandenong,Kew and Lilydale)
  • South Western (Geelong, Derrinallum, Hamilton and Warrnambool)
  • Western (Horsham, Ballarat, Ouyen and Red Cliffs)
  • Eastern (Morwell, Sale, and Bairnsdale)
  • Northern (Bendigo, Kyneton and Swan Hill)

  http://www.darshandrivingschool.com.au

vehicles registration Condition

Conditional registration is for vehicles that don’t comply with the construction and equipment requirements of the Australian Design Rules (ADR’s) (external website) and vehicle standards; and need limited access to the road network to perform specific functions. If a vehicle that complies with the construction and equipment requirements of the ADR’s, conditional registration is not offered. Examples of vehicles requiring conditional registration include:

• agricultural vehicles
• construction vehicles
• purpose built vehicles
• oversnow vehicles
• left-hand drive vehicles
• Special Work Vehicles Type 1 & 2.

Conditions

If suitable operating conditions cannot be imposed on a vehicle to overcome or moderate performance deficiencies when travelling on the road network, then the vehicle will not be registered.

VicRoads has the discretion to impose any reasonable condition, consistent with ensuring safety of all road users. Conditions will be tailored to suit the particular vehicle and its use and may include:

• requiring additional or alternative equipment
• reducing exposure (e.g. restricting speeds, hours of use, and operating range)
• requiring additional operative personnel or escort vehicles
• specifying additional protective gear for occupants
• fitting warning signs
• restrictions on towing vehicle masses.

conditions for vehicles not ADR and vehicle standards compliant

In addition to a standard registration certificate, label, and set of number plates; operators of conditionally registered vehicles are issued with a Certificate of Approved Operations. This outlines the conditions imposed on the vehicle when driven on a road or road related area. The

 

are listed in the table below.

The Certificate of Approved Operations must be carried in the vehicle at all times for enforcement purposes.

Special Work Vehicles Type 1 & 2

Special Work Vehicles are specialised motor vehicles, primarily constructed and used for off-road transportation that:

 

• are a light motor vehicle not constructed as a tractor; and
• are primarily constructed for and used for off-road transportation; and
• are undertaking agricultural, maintenance or service tasks; and
• do not comply with the Australian Design Rules ( ADR).

http://www.darshandrivingschool.com.au

Driving instructors in VicRoads

Driving instructors, acting as an agent on behalf of their client, are regarded as a third party. All the requirements of a third party apply. Special arrangements apply to accredited training and test providers as Confidentiality Agreements are in place.

Test booking information
Licence test appointment information is not regarded as personal or commercially sensitive so may be released to a driver instructor or an agent acting on behalf of an applicant. This also permits driver instructors or agents to make test bookings on behalf of another person.

Test information will only be disclosed if the driving instructor or agent can provide the applicant’s:

• full name and address; and
• date of birth; and
• licence / permit number (where applicable)
• test appointment number (optional)

Test information that may be released:

• test appointment number (if requested)
• date and time of test
• office location

Online access
Approved driving instructors may have access to VicRoads online test booking system to create, transfer and cancel appointments. Each instructor must enter into a user agreement at their local VicRoads office.
Governments, Agencies, Councils & Shires
Local, State and Federal Government Departments and Agencies including the Victorian Taxi & Tow Truck Directorate may request information from VicRoads records, in accordance with Section 92 of the Road Safety Act 1986 where:

• the department or agency has a current active Confidentiality Agreement with VicRoads; and
• the person requesting the confidential information is recorded as a ‘Nominated User’ in the Authorised Organisation Agreement; and
• appropriate supporting documentation accompanying the request is supplied.

All requests for information under these arrangements need to be forwarded to and responded to by VicRoads Driver and Vehicle Services Department.

Release of information under other circumstances
Without a Confidentiality Agreement in place will be treated as a Third Party.
May be provided with information if the release of the confidential information is required, or authorised, by law.

These requests may be dealt with by any member of VicRoads in the Registration and Licensing area who has access rights to registration and licensing information.

Telephone or email
Information will be not be disclosed as express written consent from the person to which the record relates cannot be confirmed.

VicRoads Information Services Department, may by prior arrangement where positive identification of the enquirer is possible, provide information in response to phone or email requests.

Online
A number of approved government departments or agencies have online access to VicRoads records in accordance with the terms of the current, active Confidentiality Agreement.

Fax or counter service
Information may be disclosed in accordance with the requirements relating to a third party.
VicRoads Information Services Department, may by arrangements under Confidentiality Agreement, provide information in response to approved requests.

International driving permits in Victoria

International Driving Permits (IDP’s) are recommended when you intend driving overseas.

In Australia, the Government appointed the Australian Automobile Association (AAA) as the only authority to issue permits. In Victoria, the RACV, as a constituent member of the AAA, is authorised to issue IDP’s through its RACV shops (external website).

An IDP is a widely recognised document and is useful for photo identification purposes. You may also need one to rent a car overseas.

Using an International Driving Permit in Victoria
An international driving permit represents a translation of an overseas driver licence. It has no validity on its own and must accompany a current overseas driver licence issued from your home licensing authority overseas.

An international driving permit is only valid if it:

• complies with the UN convention for International Driving Permits, and
• is issued by the country the overseas driver licence is issued in; and
• is accompanied by a current overseas driver licence from the same country the permit was issued in.

Your learner permit card or original evidence of identity documents

Category A documents
One of the following documents must be current or expired by no more than two years:

• Australian photo drivers licence or permit photo card
• Victorian Marine licence photo card
• Victorian Firearm licence photo card
• Victorian Security Guard/Crowd Controller photo card
• Australian passport
• An overseas passport. (If expired by no more than two years it is acceptable if accompanied by a current Australian visa (e.g. permanent residency or a temporary visa)
• document of identity issued by the Passport Office (usually issued to travellers to Norfolk Island)
• Australian police force officer photo identity card
• Consular photo identity card issued by the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade
• Full Australian birth certificate or change of name registration issued by the Registry of Births, Deaths and Marriages. (Note: Birth extracts and Commemorative birth certificates are not accepted)
• Australian naturalisation or citizenship certificate, or a Document for Travel to Australia or a Visa Evidence Card or after 1/04/2013 an ImmiCard, issued by the Department of Immigration and Citizenship or the Passport Office (read note 1)
• NSW Photo Card (issued by NSW RMS after 14 December 2008)
• Birth card (issued by NSW RTA (now RMS) prior to August 2008)
• Current photo image held by VicRoads regardless of date the photo was captured, provided the identity has previously been confirmed.
• A Community Detention Letter of Introduction issued by the Department of Immigration and Citizenship or the Passport Office is sufficient proof for both residence and identity.
• Resolution of Status (RoS) visa (previously known as Temporary Protection Visa (TPV)/Temporary Humanitarian Visa (THV)

Category B documents
One of these documents:

• state or federal government employee photo ID card
• Medicare card
• Department of Veteran’s Affairs card
• Pensioner Concession card
• current entitlement card issued by the Commonwealth
• student identity card
• any Australian or overseas credit card or account card from a bank, building society or credit union
• Working with Children Check card
• Australian Proof of Age card
• Australian Keypass card
• Australian Defence Force photo identity card (excluding civilian staff).

new driving course for young drivers

Young drivers will be offered the chance to learn more about road safety and reduce their logbook driving hours under a raft of changes by the NSW Government covering Learner licences.

Learners who take part in a new Safer Drivers Course and also have professional lessons will be able to reduce their compulsory supervised driving hours from 120 to 80.

Learners will also be allowed, from 1 July 2013, to travel up to 90km/h instead of 80km/h, giving them more supervised driving experience on higher speed roads in preparation for their graduation to P-Plates.

This follows a recommendation by the Auditor General to review learner speed limits.
Roads Minister Duncan Gay said the Safer Drivers Course, which will become available to Learners from July, will involve both theoretical and practical coaching.

“It also teaches learner drivers about gauging road conditions, seeing issues that could affect them and making safe decisions,” he said.

“This is a first step in rewarding the state’s younger drivers for learning safer behaviour behind the wheel.

“Young drivers are tragically over-represented in the NSW road toll and we want to ensure they are all given the opportunity to learn about road safety while they are still learning the basics of driving.”

Mr Gay said the course would be gradually rolled out based on community uptake and the availability of service providers.

“We’ve carried out market research with parents and learner drivers who believe the course will benefit them,” he said.

“They have told us it tackles the very aspects beginners face when they first start driving.
“The course deals with different road conditions, understanding factors beyond a driver’s control and also helps identify risks on the road.

“We recommend that learners enrol in the course when they have 50 hours completed in their logbook. By that stage they will have basic driving skills and will understand and appreciate the lessons they will be taught.

“This is a different approach to conventional driver training which focuses more on the mechanics of driving and road rules.”

A board of road safety experts including representatives from Centre for Road Safety, Roads and Maritime Services, NSW Police, road safety researchers and education specialists developed the course.

The course has also been supported by an advisory panel which included industry and community representatives including NRMA, driver trainer associations and community based road safety education providers.

“The course will help those young drivers who struggle to log 120 hours behind the wheel while on their L-plates while at the same time addressing safety issues they will face when they first drive solo,” the Minister said.

The cost of the course will be capped at an affordable price for each participant and any additional cost of delivering the course will be covered by the Community Road Safety Fund, which has been established to ensure infringement revenue directly finances road safety initiatives.

The board identified options to help young drivers from remote, lower socio-economic and Aboriginal communities meet the requirements to qualify for their P-plates.

Work on these options is underway. A pilot of a restricted provisional driver’s licence for young people in three remote NSW communities west of the Newell Highway will also begin in July.

Under 25-year-olds in those remote areas will be able to obtain a provisional drivers licence, only for the purpose of driving to work, education and medical appointments. They can only be given the restricted licence if they have passed the driving test and completed at least 50 supervised driving hours.