While many learner drivers take lessons from professional driving instructors, many will also want additional driving practice and some guidance from a parent, relative or friend. This page provides information for people supervising learners.

Supervising driver requirements

To supervise a learner, you must

• Hold a current full Australian driver licence – not a learner or provisional licence
• Have a good understanding of the road rules
• Be a competent driver
• Be able to effectively communicate information and ideas clearly.

Blood alcohol limit

The blood alcohol content (BAC) limit for you while you are supervising a learner is under 0.05. It is also illegal to supervise under the influence of drugs.

Learner driver log book and digital log book apps

Learner drivers need to record their practical experience in a log book. They can choose to use either a paper log book, or a digital log book app.

As the supervising driver, you’ll need to mark off the learner’s progress against a range of key tasks listed in their log book. Both the book and app include instructions on how to do this.

Remember, you are a role model

You are both a role model and mentor for your learner driver. You should support and help them become a safe and skilled driver. You also need to be patient and calm.

It is a good idea to review your own driving habits by:

• Reading the Road Users Handbook to familiarise yourself with current road rules
• Making sure you comply at all times with traffic lights, signs and road markings
• Leaving plenty of space between your vehicle and the vehicle in front
• Looking well ahead and checking ‘blind spots’ and vision blockouts
• Driving at a suitable speed for conditions
• Responding appropriately to hazards
• Being patient and courteous with other drivers
• Reading the Learner Driver Log Book to understand the content and learning goals.

12 tips for better learner supervision

When you’re supervising your learner driver:

1. If either you or the learner driver is tired, upset or stressed, reschedule the practice session to another time
2. Try frequent, short practice sessions in the beginning
3. Use the Learner Driver Log Book task key points as a guide to practice sessions
4. Begin with the easiest tasks then, once your learner has mastered those, move on to more difficult tasks
5. Discuss then demonstrate new tasks before asking your learner to attempt them
6. Use ‘commentary driving’ – talk about what is happening inside and outside the vehicle
7. Start the learner practising on quiet streets, preferably in daylight, before moving onto busier roads and more challenging conditions
8. Allow the learner to proceed at their own pace – don’t force them to attempt tasks they’re not ready for
9. Don’t criticise mistakes. Calmly explain and discuss what happened and allow the learner to try again
10. Be positive and offer praise when the learner successfully completes a task
11. Emphasise the importance of developing a sensitivity to speed. Learners need to understand that the faster a vehicle travels, the more difficult it is to respond to potential hazards. When involved in a crash, the faster a vehicle is travelling, the more devastating the outcome
12. Avoid using the radio, mobile phone or talking to other passengers while your learner is practising.

Free workshops – helping learner drivers become safer drivers

Free workshops for parents and supervisors of learner drivers are conducted around NSW. The workshops offer practical advice on how to help learner drivers become safer drivers, and cover topics such as:

• How to use the Learner Driver Log Book
• Planning driving sessions
• How to deal with difficulties that may arise during driving practice
• The importance of giving your learner constructive feedback.

For information about workshops in your area, call us on 13 22 13.

Variable message signs

Variable Message Signs are large electronic signs placed on the side of some roads.

They display messages to warn motorists of changes in normal traffic conditions on the road ahead, such as fog, crashes, road works, congestion and road closures.

These early warnings help provide a safe and efficient traffic flow.

Red light speed cameras

Red light cameras are used to photograph vehicles that go through a red light.

A penalty notice is then sent to the owner of the vehicle, who has the option to:

• Pay the fine.
• Advise Revenue NSW on a statutory declaration the name and address of the person driving at the time of the offence.
• Advise Revenue NSW you want to have the case heard by a court.

If you are crossing the intersection as the light turns yellow (amber) and it is not safe to stop, do not panic. Continue driving through the intersection. The camera only takes a photograph if you cross over the stop line 0.3 seconds after the light has turned red.

Traffic already in the intersection or entering on a yellow (amber) light will not activate the red light camera.

Red light speed cameras use digital technology that is capable of detecting both red-light and speeding offences.

 A STOP sign with three black dots is only seen at traffic lights. It means that if the lights are not working or are flashing yellow and you are approaching this sign, you must stop and give way to traffic as though you are at an intersection with stop signs.

This sign allows you to turn left on a red light after stopping. When turning left you must give way to all traffic approaching from the right.

Left turn on red light is only permitted at intersections where the sign has been placed.

Red means stop. Wait behind the stop line.

Do not go through the intersection.

Yellow (amber) means stop. You can enter the intersection if you are so close that sudden braking might cause a crash.

Green means proceed through the intersection carefully.

Turning arrows at traffic lights

Some traffic lights have arrows to control traffic turning right or left.

A green arrow means you can only turn in that direction.

A red arrow means traffic waiting to turn must wait behind the stop line until the arrow turns green or disappears, even if there is no traffic on the road.

You must not go straight ahead or turn left. You may turn right.

You must not turn right but you can go straight ahead or turn left if the way is clear.

When the yellow (amber) arrow is flashing, you may proceed but you must give way to any pedestrian who is crossing the road into which you are turning.

If practical, you must always signal left when exiting a roundabout.

Making turns and giving way at roundabouts

The diagram shows how to indicate and give way at roundabouts:

U-Turns
Take extra care when making U-turns as they can be dangerous. U-turns
cannot be made:
• Where there is a NO U-TURN sign
• On motorways
• At traffic lights unless you see a U-TURN PERMITTED sign at the
intersection
• Across an unbroken (continuous) lines, double centre unbroken
(continuous) lines, unless the line closest to you is broken.
You must start your U-turn from the marked lane nearest to the centre of
the road or, if there are no lane markings, the left of the centre of the road.
Before starting the U-turn you must make sure it is safe: check mirrors
and blind spots and that you have a clear view of any approaching
traffic.
You must not begin your U-turn unless you can make the turn without
unreasonably obstructing traffic. Give way to all vehicles and pedestrians
and signal before you start to turn.

When turning right at traffic lights:
• Enter the intersection as shown in the diagram, unless a sign indicates
otherwise or there is a red right turn arrow displayed
• Wait until oncoming traffic clears or breaks and then turn safely.
If the lights change to yellow or red while you are in the middle of the
intersection, you are allowed to turn right. You must turn as soon as it
is safe to do so. Be sure your front wheels and car are straight and not
blocking the oncoming traffic.

Car A enters the intersection.