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 manoeuvres
• 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 offenceIf 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 disqualificationIf 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 interlocksThe 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 assessmentsIf 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 benefitsResearch 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 TrialThe 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 benefitsLocal 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

Crossing the road safely

Pedestrians have to share the road with vehicles so it is important they take care when crossing the road.

As a pedestrian, plan where you will walk and always choose the safest place to cross a road.

Safe places to cross

• Whenever possible, cross at a pedestrian crossing, traffic signal or pedestrian refuge.
• Make sure you have a clear view of approaching traffic, and where drivers can see you. 
• If you cannot cross the whole road in one attempt, wait on the pedestrian refuge or median strip.

CrossingsEven at crossings you still need to remain alert and check whether vehicles are stopping for you. Always make sure traffic has actually stopped before stepping onto the road.

Remember school crossings are legally active only when the flags are displayed. If a crossing attendant is on duty, cross only when he or she indicates that it is safe.


Using a signalised pedestrian crossing

• A green man means you can cross, if it is safe to do so
• A flashing red man means you can continue to cross but should not start crossing
• A steady red man means do not start to cross - wait until the green man before beginning to cross

Crossing the road at other places

• Walk straight across the road – don’t jay-walk.
• Keep checking in both directions to make sure the way is clear. 
• Do not cross the road from between parked cars as drivers may not see you. 
• Try not to cross near trees or bushes because drivers may not see you. 
• Avoid crossing near a bend or crest in the road. Give yourself a good chance to see vehicles coming from both directions. 
• Avoid crossing on roundabouts, particularly multi lane roundabouts as they are very busy and complex and cars are not required to give way to you, unless there is a pedestrian crossing. Find somewhere further away from the roundabout to safely cross the road.

Crossing at railway level crossings
At railway level crossings, don’t cross the level crossing if there are warning lights, boom gates are closed (or closing or opening). Wait for the bells and lights to stop and the boom barriers to be raised before crossing. Many crashes occur because pedestrians cross immediately after a train, not realising a second train is coming.

Crossing at tram stopsAt tram stops, don’t cross the road to get on a tram until the tram has stopped at the tram stop.  Make sure traffic has seen you and is stopping before you step out onto the road to get on or off the tram.  When you get off the tram you must cross to the nearest footpath by the shortest safe route. Walking around the front or rear of a tram to cross a road is extremely risky as drivers cannot see you.   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.

Road safety for children on skateboards, scooters and 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

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).  www.darshandrivingschool.com.au

A roadworthy inspection

The inspection is a check of the vehicle to ensure that key components have not worn or deteriorated and that the vehicle is safe for normal road use.
A roadworthy inspection mainly covers the major safety related items, including:

• wheels and tyres
• steering, suspension and braking systems
• seats and seat belts
• lamps and reflectors
• windscreen, and windows including front windscreen wipers and washers
• the structure of the vehicle itself
• other safety related items on the body, chassis or engine.

The roadworthiness test is not a check of the mechanical reliability or general condition of the vehicle. If you require a comprehensive check on the overall condition and reliability of the vehicle then you should arrange for a separate independent report such as those offered by the RACV, many Licensed Motor Car Traders (LMCTs) and other workshops.
The certificate does not mean:

• that the vehicle is in top condition without any wear or deterioration
• non-safety related accessories such as the air conditioner, rear window demister, electric windows and rear-window wipers are working
• that the items checked during the roadworthy inspection will continue to function after the inspection eg. a brake light can stop functioning at any time after the inspection. www.darshandrivingschool.com.au