Supervising learner Driver NSW

The role of supervising a learner driver in NSW is a great responsibility that will have long lasting consequences. Research shows that the standard of on road driving experience a learner drivers receives plays a significant role in determining their ability to drive safely. Therefore it is very important that learner drivers are supervised by someone who can help them learn to drive safely. To become a supervising driver you must have a full drivers licence. Consequently Provisional drivers and drivers with restricted drivers licences are not eligible to become a supervising driver.

In addition to being a fully licensed driver you also require a good knowledge of the road rules. You will also need to be a good driver with the right driving skills as well as good communication skills. Because you will need to explain road rules and safe driving techniques to the learner driver. Therefore you will need to know how to drive properly and be able to explain and teach the learner driver how to drive properly. In addition to this you will need to be able to explain various concepts to the learner driver such as crash avoidance spaces, how to respond to dangerous situations and gap selection.

When supervising a learner driver you must:

• Hold a current drivers licence for the class for the class of vehicle the learner will drive
• Have a full Australian drivers licence
• Your drivers licence must be current and valid
• When supervising a learner driver you must have a blood alcohol content under 0.05
• It is illegal to supervise under the influence of drugs
• Use a vehicle that is registered and roadworthy
• Know the road rules and how to apply them in real life situations.

Tips for supervising a learner Driver

Your role in supervising a learner driver NSW is a vital part of your learner drivers journey to becoming a safe driver. There is a lot of research and evidence to show that the standard of supervised driving the learner receives has a huge impact on the safety as a driver. Don’t waste this opportunity to give your learner drive the best start possible.

• Do not supervise when you or the learner are upset or angry
• Use the learning objectives at the beginning of the log book as a guide
• Start on quiet streets with minimal traffic.
• Begin with easy tasks such as steering and road position before moving onto more complex things
• Explain how to do something then demonstrate it to the learner. Make sure the learner knows what they are trying to do before letting them do it.
• Allow the learner to progress at a pace they are comfortable with. Don’t try to get them to do things they are not ready for.
• When the learner driver makes a mistake calmly review what happened and explain to them what they should have done differently. Remember it is inevitable that they will make mistakes. It is your job to make sure you do not put them in a situation they are not ready for.

Remember when you teach a learner driver that you have a lot of skills that you have developed over a long period of time. You have been driving for many years and as such you have had a lot of time to practice and develop your driving technique. It is impossible for the learner driver to have the experience or knowledge that you have. Therefore it is inevitable that they will make mistakes.

Completing the Log Book

Learner drivers under the age of 25 years old will be required to complete the Log Book detailing their driving experience. The learner driver will have to present the log book to the driving examiner on the day of the driving test. The driving test examiner will check the log book prior to the test. Any incomplete entries will result that entry being deleted. If the log book is incomplete or missing essential information or evidence of driving experience the learner driver will not be allowed to do the driving test. The test will be cancelled due to incomplete log book and you will have to book another driving test. To read more about the log book and its requirements please read our blog Learner Log Book Mistakes.

The roads and Maritime Services offer FREE workshops for parents and supervising drivers. For more information on the workshops pleas call the RMS on 13 22 13.

Learner Driver Road Rules

All learner drivers must complete the driver knowledge test before being issued a learner drivers licence. This means the learner driver has a basic knowledge of the road rules. There are a lot of road rules and the Driver Knowledge Test consists of 45 questions. As a learner driver you must obey all road rules. Failing to obey a road rule can result in being issued an infringement notice. Which means having to pay a fine as well as losing your licence. Any driving offence whilst driving on a learner licence will result in a fine and demerit points.

Whilst supervising a learner driver it is important to make sure the learner driver obeys all road rules. In addition to the normal road rules that all road users are required to obey there are additional rules that apply only to learners.

• Zero blood alcohol level.
• 4 Demerit points in a three year period
• Maximum speed limit of 90 km/h
• Learner drivers must be supervised by a fully licensed driver with a blood alcohol level under 0.05 who is seated in the front passenger seat
• You are not allowed to tow anything
• Learner drivers are not allowed to drive in Centennial Park, Moore Park Sydney, Parramatta Park.
• Not allowed to touch a mobile phone. For more information on mobile phones and driving please rad our blog Mobile Phones and Driving NSW.

Your learner drivers licence is valid for 5 years. You can renew the learners licence for another 5 years but you will have to pass the Drivers Knowledge Test again. In order to progress from a learners licence to a red provisional licence you will need to pass the hazard perception test and the driving test.