There are great resources to help young people become safe drivers. The main things to remember are:
- Prepare well by getting at least 120 hours of accompanied on-road experience before applying for your licence.
- Choose a safe car.
- Try to minimise distractions by not driving with same aged friends, or with your mobile phone turned on, even if it is hands free.
- Do not drive at night unless essential or you are accompanied by a driver of several years experience.
- Don’t drive during the time you would normally be asleep or if you have not slept in the last 18 hours.
- Increase space and following distances. Do not tailgate – aim to keep a minimum 2 second gap from the vehicle in front.
- Never exceed the speed limit. It takes longer to stop than you might think. Practice slowing down as the first reaction to a potential hazardous situation.
- Do not drive after drinking or taking drugs.
- Anticipate! Continue to develop your hazard recognition skills.
- Always ensure you and all of your passengers are wearing a seat belt.
- Attend a Keys Please session.
There are several handbooks available to young drivers and their supervisors which help them with the learning to drive process. These can be found under the publications and forms section of the VicRoads website.
L site is the learner driver's online resource, contains hints, information and quizzes to test your progress online.
The practice learner permit test allows you to practice your permit test as many times as you want. It uses actual questions from the permit test. When you can pass the practice test every time you do it, then you will be ready to apply to VicRoads for your real permit test.
The Learner Kit, given to all new drivers, is a step-by-step guide for learner drivers and supervising drivers. It provides:
- A plan for learners to develop safe driving skills over a sustained period of time
- The Learner Log Book
- Advice on how to make the most of practice sessions
- A Guide for Supervising Drivers
The Road to Solo Driving handbook provides information for learner drivers including the main road rules, sample questions that people can expect in the licence test and hints for safe driving. You can view this booklet on the new driver handbooks page.
Keys Please is a free one and a half hour forum for learner drivers and their parents emphasising the importance of the partnership between the learner and supervisor to gain 120 hours of on road supervised driving experience in order to become a responsible and safe driver.
Drive Smart is a free CD-ROM from the TAC. It takes you through a range of interactive driving scenarios and quizzes, asking you to make judgements on safe driving practices and provides an improved understanding of hazard perception.