NSW Graduated Licencing Scheme

Earlier this week the NSW Roads And Maritime Services (RMS) announced some significant changes to the Graduated Licencing Scheme (GLS), or in simpler terms; the way we progress from Learner through to Full Licence holders. It was announced that from the 20^th November 2017:

• Learner drivers will have to complete the Hazard Perception Test before they can take the Learner driving test.
• P1 drivers will no longer have to complete the Hazard Perception Test to get their P2 licence
• The Driver Qualification Test has been removed for P2 Drivers and in its place P2 drivers will have to stay on their licence for an extra six months if they receive a suspension for unsafe driving behaviour.

In NSW, the GLS was overhauled on 1 July 2000, when a three-stage licencing process was introduced, and is now a key component of the Government’s commitment to road safety and the Towards Zero campaign to reduce the road toll. The rules and restrictions placed on L, P1 and P2 drivers are designed to help keep them safer as they develop their driving skills over the 4-year program. However, in 2016, P1 and P2 licence holders accounted for 15% of fatalities in road accidents, despite making up just 8% of licence holders. With P1 drivers, 10 times more likely to be in a crash than learner drivers.

But these new changes, seem to have a few people confused as to what licencing system applies to them. So lets work to break this down by answering just one simple question.

Did you gain your learners licence on or before 19^th November 2017?

If the answer is yes, then you follow these 7 steps to gain your full drivers licence:

1. Pass the Driver Knowledge Test to get your learner licence
2. Hold your learner licencefor at least 12 months, and complete 120 hours of supervised driving practice, including 20 hours of night driving (unless you’re 25 or older)
3. Pass the Driving Testto get your provisional P1 (red) licence
4. Hold your P1 licencefor at least 12 months
5. Pass the Hazard Perception Test(HPT) to get your provisional P2 (green) licence
6. Hold your P2 licencefor at least 2 years (24 months)
7. Pass the Driver Qualification Test(DQT) to get your full, unrestricted licence.

If the answer is no. Which means you gained your learners licence on or after 20^th November 2017, then you follow these steps to gain your full drivers licence:

1. Pass the Driver Knowledge Test to get your learner licence
2. Hold your learner licencefor at least 12 months, and complete 120 hours of supervised driving practice, including 20 hours of night driving (unless you’re 25 or older)
3. Pass the Hazard Perception Test(HPT) to get your provisional P1 (red) licence
4. Hold your P1 licencefor at least 12 months to get your provisional P2 (green) licence
5. Hold your P2 licencefor at least 2 years (24 months)
6. Get your full, unrestricted licence.

So while P2 licence holders will no longer have to sit the Driver Qualification test before gaining their full licence, some harsher penalties have been introduced for P2 holders who break the law, including an additional 6 months on your P2’s for any licence suspension, or for high-risk speeding offences, such as 30km/h + over the limit. This additional 6 months is in additional to any suspension periods served.

Let’s hope that makes a few things a little clearer for young drivers, but if you have any other questions feel free to call us.

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