Road to Solo Driving handbook

This handbook will help you study for your learner permit and licence tests. It contains important road safety and road law information that will prepare you for safe driving. You may also be interested in reading about the Drive Test.
Availability and costAvailable for purchase from the Victorian Government Bookshop, by calling the Victorian Government Bookshop on 1300 366 356, attending a VicRoads Customer Service Centre, selected newsagencies, some libraries and other retail outlets (cost can vary between retailers). Please refer to Licence publications and products for information on the Road to Solo Driving Handbook fee.
Latest versionThe latest version (PDF only) of the English edition of this handbook is dated December 2012. The latest hard copy edition of this handbook is dated September 2012 and includes an addendum notifying the current requirements for evidence of identity.
Languages availableThe Road to Solo Driving handbook is available for purchase and to view online in English, Arabic, Chinese (Mandarin), Turkish and Vietnamese.
View the Road to Solo Driving handbook
To make downloading easier, the English, Arabic, Chinese (Mandarin), Turkish and Vietnamese versions of the Road to Solo Driving handbook have each been split up into smaller sections.

Traffic Signals SCATS

SCATS ( S ydney C oordinated A daptive T raffic S ystem) is a sophisticated and dynamic intelligent transport system. SCATS controls more than 3,700 traffic lights across Victoria, including regional areas such as Geelong, Ballarat, Bendigo and Traralgon.

The aim of traffic light coordination is to improve traffic flow and safety for road users. The system is able to manage traffic according to predetermined programs for each individual intersection according to the time of day or day of the week. SCATS can also adapt traffic light timings to manage unexpected conditions and minimise delays caused by events or incidents. TMC staff use SCATS to manually change traffic light cycles for sporting and social events to improve access and traffic flow around major venues.

SCATS is also used to assist with the smooth and reliable operation of the public transport network – in particular trams and buses. Where a tram has priority at an intersection, SCATS will identify when the tram approaches and ensure the traffic light cycle gives the tram priority through the intersection. Over 500 intersections in metropolitan Melbourne have tram priority set in SCATS. At some key intersections SCATS is also used to give buses priority so they can clear the intersection and not delay, or be delayed, by other traffic.

Why its dangerous to use a mobile phone while driving

Research shows that dialling and talking on a mobile phone while driving can lead to:

• Riskier decision making
  Deciding when it is safe to turn in traffic is a complex task. Using a mobile phone while driving affects judgement and concentration and you may fail to choose a safe gap. When making a decision to turn across oncoming traffic, you also tend not to consider the environmental conditions such as, when it is raining or the roads are slippery. If you don’t make safe turns you could crash.
• Slower reactions
  You generally react slower when using a mobile phone, particularly when you’re deep in conversation. You may take longer to respond to traffic signals or completely miss them.
• Slower and less controlled braking
  During a mobile phone call your brake reaction time is slower, and you brake with more force and less control which results in shorter stopping distances available between yourself and the car in front.
• Wandering out of your lane You’re more likely to wander out of your lane when you’re using a mobile phone, even on a straight road with little traffic.
• Not being alert to your surroundings
  When using a mobile phone, you tend to spend less time checking your mirrors and what’s going on around you. This affects your ability to monitor and negotiate traffic safely.

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vicroads driving instructors

When is an instructor licence required?

Driving Instructors are covered under the Driving Instructors Act 1992, and Driving Instructors Regulation 2003. The legislation requires any person who teaches another person to drive for money or reward to hold an Instructor’s licence.
Prerequisites for a driving instructor licence

A person is not eligible to be issued with a driving instructor licence unless the person:
Has reached the age of 21 years, and

• Is the holder of a driver licence* of the relevant class**, and
• Has, for a period of not less than 3 years during the period of 4 years before the date of the application, held a driver       licence1. of the relevant class2., and
• Has been authorised by the Authority to undertake, and has passed, a course in driving instruction approved by the Authority and conducted by an organisation approved by the Authority.

* A drivers licence means a licence, other than a learner licence, a provisional licence, a probationary licence or a restricted licence.
** The relevant class means the class of vehicles for which the instructor licence is applied for.
Restricted driving instructor licence

Restricted driving instructor licence

Restricted driving instructor licences are available for providers of post-licence instruction.

The restricted licence is issued with the condition, "Restricted licence, the licensee is not permitted to instruct people who hold a learner driver licence", clearly displayed on the front of the licence.

To be issued with a restricted licence applicants must:

• Meet all existing eligibility requirements of the Driving Instructor Act and Regulations (minimum age, hold licence tenure etc).
• Complete all existing application requirements (Driving Instructor DKT, Medical, police checks etc).
• Be issued with a letter of eligibiity, in accordance with all existing requirements.
• Obtain one of the following qualifications: TAA04 or TAE10 or Diploma in Education or equivalent higher qualification (as approved by RMS).
• Pass an assessment on the Driving Instructor Act and Regulations assessed by RMS.
• Restricted licences are only available for car and motorcycle Driving Instructor licences. They are not available for any heavy vehicle driving instructor licences.

    Applicants for restricted licences are exempt from:

• TLI41207 Certificate IV in Driving Instruction.
• Impart Knowledge Test.

Driving Licence Holders Health and medicals

Do I need a medical test?

Certain licensees must submit a satisfactory medical report before their licence can be renewed or maintained.  Holders of a Mobility Parking Scheme (MPS) card may be required to provide a medical report when they apply for the issue, reissue, renewal or replacement of their licence if Roads and Maritime Services has not been advised of any medical condition on the licence. See Fitness to drive and MPS permits for more details.

Licence class C, LR, MR, HR, HC and Rider.

• Medical required at age 75 then annually.

Licence class MC.

• Medical required at age 21 then every 10 years.
• Medical required at age 40 then every 5 years.     
• Medical required at age 60 then every 2 years.
• Medical required at age 70 then annually.

All Licence Holders

The law requires the holder of a driver licence to notify, as soon as practicable, Roads and Maritime Services (RMS) of any long term injury or illness that may impair his or her ability to drive safely. RMS must be satisfied that all licence holders are medically fit to drive.  The medical standards for drivers are set by the National Transport Commission and AUSTROADS, and are set out in 'Assessing Fitness to Drive' (available from the AUSTROADS website). ‘Assessing Fitness to Drive’ was recently revised in 2012.  Frequently Asked Questions about the revision in 2012 can be found here.

A licence holder can be directed to have regular medical examinations because of a medical condition or because of advanced age. Some drivers must also have an annual driving test.

The rules apply to all licence holders, including people who have three or five year licences.

Medical Examinations

If you are required to have a medical examination, RMS will send you a letter approximately eight weeks before you are due for a medical examination. On the back of the letter is a medical report form to be completed by your doctor, indicating whether you are medically fit to drive.

You ask your doctor whether an appointment is required to have the form completed. If your doctor considers you medically fit to drive and hands the completed report to you, return it to a motor registry.

If you would prefer to restrict your driving, for instance, to certain times of the day or to within an area where you live, you should discuss it with your doctor at the time of your compulsory medical test.

If your doctor considers you medically unfit to drive or wants to refer your case to a second doctor, he or she will send the medical report directly to RMS. You will be notified of the decision about your licence by RMS soon after.

Note: Section G.13.1 of the Medicare Benefits Schedule states 'Medicare benefits be paid for the following categories of health screening: - age or health related medical examinations to obtain or renew a licence to drive a private motor vehicle'.

Disclosure of a medical condition for the first time

A customer who discloses to RMS for the first time that he or she suffers from diabetes, epilepsy, giddiness, blackouts, fainting or other sudden periods of unconsciousness, must provide a satisfactory medical report before he or she can receive or renew a licence.

A customer who discloses to RMS for the first time that he or she has monocular vision must provide a satisfactory eyesight report before he or she can receive or renew a licence.

Customers who have already declared these medical conditions to RMS can renew their licences provided that RMS medical review requirements have been met.

Customers with diabetes that is controlled by diet are no longer required to provide an initial medical report.

Customers who already hold a NSW driver licence can obtain a medical report form from any motor registry or by calling 13 22 13.

Driving Tests

If you need to pass a driving test as well as a medical examination it will be printed at the top of the letter. You can only take a driving test after a doctor has declared you medically fit to drive.

To avoid delays call 13 22 13 or go to your nearest motor registry to make an appointment as soon as possible.

RMS's A guide to the Driving Test is available for download or free from any motor registry. It tells you what is involved in a driving test and what you will be tested on.
Occupational Therapist Reviews

Drivers with certain health conditions may require a driving assessment by a suitably qualified occupational therapist before a licence will be issued or reissued.

Requirements to Become a Driving Instructor

A Driving Instructor is a person approved by the Registrar of Motor Vehicles to teach another person to drive a motor vehicle (of the approved class) in exchange for fee, reward, salary, wages or other remuneration or consideration. Approval is valid for five (5) years, unless sooner cancelled/suspended or revoked.
To become a Driving Instructor in the NT you need to have held the relevant class of licence for a period of three (3) consecutive years immediately prior to application. You will also need to:

1. be certified as medically fit by a medical practitioner (in accordance with the Commercial Standards of the nationally agreed guidelines "Assessing Fitness to Drive");
2. pass a Police traffic and criminal history check, (the National Police Clearance and Complete Traffic History checks can be arranged through Safe NT or your local Police Station, clearly identifying that an employment check is required for the profession of a Driving Instructor);  and,
3. you must complete the required training course delivered by an Approved course provider (listed below are local NT providers and a link to interstate Accredited providers).

Driving Instructors are to comply with the Code of Practice for Driving Instructors in the NT.
There are currently two training courses (qualifications) that will allow you to become a driving instructor in the NT and these are:

• TLI41210 Certificate IV in Transport and Logistics (Road Transport – Car Driving Instruction)
• TLI41310 Certificate IV in Transport and Logistics (Road Transport – Heavy Vehicle Driving Instruction)

Only qualifications issued by an accredited course provider will be accepted for the issue of an NT Driving Instructor endorsement. Qualifications issued by non-accredited course providers will not be recognised as the course may not have been conducted to the standard required by the Registrar of Motor Vehicles.

Safety barriers

In instances where a roadside hazard cannot be made safe, removed or relocated, it may be necessary to provide physical protection from the hazard. Safety barriers are available for a variety of applications and this section provides advice on selecting, installing and maintaining safety barriers.
The Australian Standard document "AS/NZS 3845:1999 Road Safety Barrier Systems" discusses various methods of roadside hazard protection and provides direction on the correct use of the different systems. The Standard has been the basis for a number of guidelines written by individual road authorities for use within their jurisdiction.
It should also be noted that the Austroads publication Safety Barriers (1987) is currently being reviewed and updated.
Decision to install a safety barrier
Safety barriers are a form of roadside hazard. When considering whether to install a safety barrier, it is important to remember that the barrier will present some danger to the occupants of errant vehicles, and especially to unprotected road users such as motorcyclists. A barrier should only be installed if collision with it will present less of an injury risk to vehicle users and occupants than would result from collision with the roadside hazard that is to be shielded by the barrier.
It is important to consider specifically the danger posed to motorcyclists by both the hazard and the intended safety barrier. As essentially unprotected road users, motorcyclists are particularly vulnerable to unforgiving roadside environments; any obstacle in the path of an errant motorcyclist has the potential to cause severe injury. If it is decided that a safety barrier is necessary at a site, attention should be paid to the design of the barrier to ensure that it poses as little risk as possible to colliding motorcyclists.
Barrier types
The following sections describe a number of roadside safety barriers and end-treatments. This list does not contain all available types of barrier, and the practitioner should be aware that manufacturers continually develop new or improved barrier designs. Accordingly, the information presented here refers to testing procedures, the results of which can be used to determine the suitability of proposed barriers. No barrier should be installed unless it has been shown to meet the applicable standards and can therefore be expected to perform satisfactorily.
Barrier types include rigid barriers, semi-rigid barriers and flexible barriers. Semi-rigid and flexible barriers are preferred as they generally cause less damage to vehicles during a crash, while a rigid barrier is suitable where space is limited and it is placed relatively close to the traffic lane (eg. narrow median).
Where a barrier is essential, the practitioner should bear in mind that barrier posts are the main cause of injury to motorcyclists. Other barrier attributes that are considered to be dangerous to motorcyclists (ATSB 2000) include upper and lower edges (particularly if jagged edges exist), protruding reflectors, low barrier mounting height (as motorcyclists can be thrown over the barrier) and rigid barriers.
Guards have been designed to reduce the severity of motorcycle collisions with barriers. These are available in a range of designs for various types of barrier.