Bonus hours for learner drivers who train with qualified instructors

Friday, 15 November 2024

Novice drivers will soon earn up to 10 bonus hours towards their required training if they train with a registered Motor Driving Instructor, improving the skills and knowledge of future drivers by adding the incentive of gaining professional tuition from the driver training industry.

Under the planned change, South Australian learner drivers will be credited with three hours of driving experience for every hour they train with a professional instructor, up to a maximum of five hours.

That means five hours of driving with an instructor will be logged as 15 hours.

The changes will offer drivers an incentive to train with a qualified instructor.

Not only will this incentivise learners to complete their required minimum of 75 logged hours faster, it will also improve their knowledge and provide them with a better chance at passing the final on-road test.

The required minimum of 75 logged hours will remain and can be a combination of supervised hours with a professional instructor and a qualified supervising driver such as a parent or other qualified driver.

This change will not only help train safer drivers now and into the future, it will also support the industry and its members. Several other states have already successfully incorporated bonus logged hours.

To help the public make an informed decision about choosing an instructor, an online register will be established that will provide details of every industry member including their name and geographical service area.

It complements significant driver training reforms passed by state parliament, which will see driver training for Class C (car) licences continue to be delivered by private operators who will be required to comply with new, higher industry standards, while practical driving tests for Class C will be undertaken by government examiners. The reforms are in response to a Department for Infrastructure and Transport review into the industry that highlighted the need to strengthen standards and address instances of inappropriate and criminal behaviour.

A consultative forum will also be established with industry stakeholders including the Australian Driver Trainers Association of South Australia, the Professional Driver Trainers Association, the Get Home Safe Foundation and the RAA as part of the continued development of these regulations