Getting A Licence: A Test Of More Than Just Road Rules

One such achievement that marks our true movement into complete freedom is obtaining our drivers licence. With recent changes to the steps required to obtain this, it can be quite confusing. What exactly are the steps required to get your Australian drivers licence?

The first step is really out of your hands; in order to be able to get your learners' permit you must be at least 16 years old. So sit back and relax, it won't take long. Once you reach this goal, a couple of things will be required of you. First, you will have to get your hands on a Road Users Handbook and associated reading material, either from the RTA website or in person at your local branch. It is also at this stage that you will have to line up a fully licensed driver who will be your mentor, teacher and instructor, as you will blitz the Driver Knowledge Test.

After passing the test, you can now start putting what you have learnt into practice. As they say, "practice makes perfect", so 120 logged hours, if under 25, with your chosen mentor will test you and their limits of patience, love, stress and adrenalin levels. Of course you will be limited with respect to what you can do so make sure that you are familiar with it all. No use losing your permit over something obvious such as drinking and speeding.

Okay, so now you have bonded with your mentor for the required amount of time and celebrated your next birthday. It also feels like the twelve months you've had your permit is more like ten years and it is time to get on with it. The next stage, P1, requires you to demonstrate to an official from the RTA that you are competent and roadworthy. Be careful because if you decide to take the test in an automatic, you will not be allowed to drive a manual for a period of time. Other rules also apply to you here in order to reduce the risk of accidents, injury or death (hey, we're not immortal, after all) so again make sure that you are aware of them.

The limits placed on you for P1 will only last for 12 months, after that you can sit the Hazard Perception Test in order to enter the last of the Provisional stages, P2. This computer-simulated test analyses how effective your skills are in life-threatening situations. With the next stage comes a little more responsibility - especially with respect to the speed at which you can travel.

Finally, after what feels like eternity, and another 24 months, you will have to sit the last of your examinations, the Driver Qualification Test. It is only then that you will have the bragging rights to call yourself a fully-fledged driver.