Australia
Licensing laws in Australia differ between different states and territories; however, most involve a similar procedure and a graduated licensing scheme. The following applies to licensing in New South Wales, unless otherwise noted.
The minimum age for a Learner’s Permit is 16 years for cars and 16 and 9 months for motorcycles. Since the introduction of an enhanced graduated licensing scheme in 2000, new drivers must proceed through 3 different stages before gaining a full, unrestricted licence.
The minimum age for a P1 licence is 17 and the mandatory periods of time between each licence makes the effective minimum age of full licensing 20.
* A Learner’s Permit is gained after passing a computerised knowledge test. Learner drivers are permitted to drive accompanied by a full, unrestricted licence holder (usually a parent or professional driving instructor). Learner drivers are subjected to numerous restrictions: a maximum speed of 80 km/h, a zero alcohol limit, cannot tow a trailer, and must conspicuously display black-on-yellow ‘L-plates’ while driving. Learner drivers must complete at least 120 hours (verified by a log book completed by the supervising driver) of on-road driving experience (from July 1, 2007, up from 50 hours), and must hold the permit for at least 1 year (up from 6 months), before they may apply for a Provisional (P1) Licence. In an intentional quirk of the system, drivers may apply for a Learner’s permit at the age of 16 and six months, but the minimum age for a P1 licence is 17/18; drivers who apply for a Learner’s permit on their sixteenth birthday must therefore hold the licence for a year before progressing to the next stage. This is thought to encourage extra driving experience for younger applicants.
* A Provisional (P1) Licence (commonly called P’s and Reds) is gained after six months and successful completion of a practical driving test. The licence holder can drive unaccompanied, but is limited to a maximum speed of 90 km/h, towing trailers of up to 250kg, and a zero alcohol limit. They must display red-on-white ‘P-plates’ while driving. P1 drivers are limited to a total of three demerit points during the term of the licence, as compared to the 12-point limit on unrestricted licences. P1 drivers must hold the licence for one year before progressing to the next stage. In New South Wales the minimum age to be eligible for a P1 Licence is 17. In Victoria, the minimum age to be eligible for a P1 Licence is 18 and drivers are not speed limited.
* A Provisional (P2) Licence (in New South Wales only; commonly known as Greens) is gained after one year and successful completion of a computerised hazard perception test. The driver is restricted to a speed limit of 100km/h, a zero alcohol limit, and a maximum of six demerit points; however, they are eligible to upgrade the class of their licence, such as those for heavier vehicles. P2 drivers must display a green-on-white ‘P-plate’ at all times. P2 drivers must hold the licence for two years before progressing to the next stage. In Victoria there are not yet P2 licenses (they are being introduced in 2008), but the P1 license lasts for 3 years instead of 1.
* A full, unrestricted licence is gained after two years and successful completion of another computerised test. Unrestricted drivers progress through different « colour » licences: black, silver and gold.
There are several common complaints about the NSW licensing scheme. The relatively high number of road accidents and traffic offences involving P-plate drivers (such as speeding and drink-driving) has prompted calls for further driving restrictions, such as curfews and passenger restrictions, as implemented in other countries. Some consider 50 hours to be insufficient experience for learner drivers. Also, the blanket speed restrictions on Learner and Provisional drivers can pose problems on country roads and freeways, where learner drivers are restricted to 80km/h while other drivers may travel up to 110km/h. In Victoria, this problem is avoided by not imposing speed restrictions on newly licenced drivers.
In Victoria, citizens are eligible for their Learner’s Permits at age 16, which required a computerised knowledge test, then are restricted only to driving whilst accompanied by a fully licensed driver. They must also display ‘L’ Plates, have a 0.0 BAC and may not tow trailers. Learner’s Permits must be held for at least 6 months, unless the holder is over 25, in which case it is 3 months. It should be noted that unlike New South Wales, there are no speed restrictions, nor is there a requirement for hours of experience (although 120 hours are recommended, and new requirements are to be introduced in 2007/2008 which will mandate a minimum number of hours).
Probationary Licences in Victoria may be obtained at age 18, after passing a hazard perception test and a driving test. The 0.0 BAC restriction remains and furthermore, P platers are not allowed to drive ‘high powered vehicles’ (those powered at more than 125kw/ton.) Unlike NSW, there is only one style of Probationary Licence and as with Learners Permits, there are no speed restrictions. Victorian ‘P Plates’ are a white P with a red background, and may not have any other form of ‘P plate’, as this attracts a fine and demerit points. This has recently become a point of contention, attracting some media attention.
In Western Australia, drivers who have had their licence revoked can obtain an Extraordinary Licence if they can demonstrate that the loss of their licence inflicts hardship and pay a AU$500 fine. The Extraordinary Licence permits them only to drive to avoid the hardship, for example to and from work.
Tourists and visitors staying less than three months are permitted to drive on the licence of their home country. If the licence is not written in English, then an acceptable translation of the licence must be carried at all times. Visitors staying more than three months must apply for a licence in the state in which they reside.
In Australia, where there is no form of national identity card, driver’s licences serve as the primary means of photo identification; ‘proof of age’ cards were available for non-drivers. These have been replaced by Photo cards from Dec 2005. Licences and Photo Cards are hologrammed, and contain a photograph, signature, the driver’s address and organ donor status.
* The Road and Traffic Authority of New South Wales
* A ‘Demonstration’ Driver Knowledge Test for Learner Drivers
* Road Users Handbook (PDF)
As of 2005, Queensland licences are now called a « Driver Licence » (as opposed to the traditional « Driver’s Licence », or the more grammatically correct « Driving Licence »), and no longer carry information about the holder’s organ donor status. The Australian Organ Donor Register[4] is now used for national registration of tissue donation status, due to criticism of the previous schemes.
Elderly drivers are required to have their licences renewed more often and required to have compulsory eye tests, which does not include colour vision (which is in theory important for understanding traffic signals, although colour blind people can in practice tell by position, this requires more concentration).
As of January 1, 2007, Victoria will begin a phased adoption of a graduated licensing scheme, like that already used in NSW. Notably, while learner permits will be obtainable from the same age (16 years old), in July 2008 VICroads will introduce the new Probationary 1 (Green) which can be obtained when the person turns 18, and Probationary 2 (Red) which can be obtained when the person turns 19 it will last for three years after that meaning a person will be 22 before being eligible for a full licence. This aims both to increase the experience of young drivers, as well as limit their capabilities to counter their inexperience. The new P-Plates will have certain limitations:
* P-Platers (both P1 and P2) will not be allowed to drive eight cylinder vehicles (or higher), nor certain kinds of six cylinder vehicles
* Drink driving offenders will be required to install an alcohol ignition interlock system when re-licensed (this will apply even to full license holders)
* P1’s will not be permitted to use mobile phones or messaging systems of any kind, even hands-free, while driving
* P1’s will not be permitted to tow anything (unless for work or if under instruction)
* P1’s that have a drink-driving offense, their license suspended, or a drug-related driving offense will face passenger restrictions for the remainder of their license (including any extension of the P1 period as a result of those offenses)
Contrary to many reports, there are currently no plans to introduce curfews or passenger restrictions for probationary or learner drivers in Victoria.
Full details of the license changes are available from the Victorian Governments Arrive Alive website.
, le il y a 17 années et 5 mois.
