Driving Test

The Australian driving test was changed in 2007 in order to ensure safer roads with cautious drivers. With the new road safety initiatives, a more challenging driving test was introduced. In order to be prepared to take the test, it is important to pay attention to detail and arrive ready for anything.

Before the Test
Before an individual can be admitted to take their driving test, they must demonstrate that they have sufficient practice driving. This can be shown by either the appropriate hours of driving experience recorded in a Learner Driver Log Book, or a ‘Declaration of Completion’ signed by the supervising driver.

Fee’s to Expect
Handbooks to study such as the Road Users’ Handbook, Heavy Vehicle Drivers’ Handbook, Motorcycle Riders’ Handbook, Hazard Perception Handbook, and the Driver Qualification Handbook come out to approximately $11
Driver Knowledge Test is approximately $37 for each attempt
Driving Test is approximately $46 for each attempt
Application for Exemption due to prohibited vehicle condition is approximately $26
Learner’s license approximately $21
Provisional P1 Drivers License is approximately $47 and is only available to those who have completed 120 hours of driving time, including atleast 20 hours of night driving. The individual must also have held a learner license for atleast 12 months.

Expectations When Taking the Test
During the driving test, the driver will be assessed on five categories: decision making, speed management, response to hazards, road positioning and vehicle control.
Skills that will be tested are scanning, maintaining the proper following distance, buffering, turning at intersections, and different manoeuvres such as the kerb side stop, hill start, three-point turn, parking, reverse parallel and front or rear to kurb.

Explanations on Skills
Scanning: It is important to pay attention to the world around you, so look in all the mirrors and watch for pedestrians, cars, and road signs
Buffering: This has to do with road positioning and focuses on maintaining a safe distance from hazards such as other vehicles. Buffering is moving your vehicle to the middle of your lane in order to have as much space on the sides in case you face an emergency situation.
Speed management: In order to prevent a collision, you need to maintain the proper following distance. This might mean slowing down if you get within one car length to the car in front of you. It is also important to demonstrate the ability to follow a speed limit.
Response to hazards: In order to pass the test, you can’t be reckless. This means, focus on the road and respond to a situation carefully.

Of course before you can sit your driving test you will need to of had a driving lesson.