Did you know learner drivers 21 years of age and above do not require a specific amount of supervised driving hours?
21 to 24 year olds must hold a learner permit for a minimum of 6 months, then they can take the drive test for a solo drivers licence.
If they are 25+, the minimum is 3 months.
Under 21 must hold a learner permit for a minimum 12 months, and complete 120 hours of supervised driving
Source: https://www.vicroads.vic.gov.au/ls-and-ps/getting-your-ps/how-to-get-your-ps
DID YOU KNOW WHY THIS IS A PROBLEM?
- Learners wait till 21 to avoid hours
- They learn the testing area only
- Learning to drive is rushed
- Driving instructors teach the minimum
- Higher speed driving, complex tasks and variety is ignored
- Rules in general are misunderstood
DO HOURS REALLY MATTER?
Yes and no! Regardless, I would like to see a focus on specific tasks, such as:
- Turning right at solid green traffic lights
- Merging on to high speed roads
- Lane changing at high speed
- Country road driving
- Hook Turns (theoretically or practically)
- Tram rules (theoretically or practically)
- What to do with emergency vehicles
- All types of parking
- Emergency braking
- Reversing and turning
- Following GPS route
- The list goes on…
HOW CAN WE CHANGE?
- Individuals need to take more responsibility in what they learn
- Professionals need to change their mentality and cover all bases, not just the test
- The system for driver training and licencing needs an overhaul
- Driver training should be part of the Australian curriculum
- Attainting a solo drivers licence needs to be stricter
- The drive test criteria needs to be more comprehensive which will change how professionals teach
Your thoughts?
Email me, Courtenay, at crudedriving@gmail.com
Read the previous blog post: November 2025 FREE
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