NSW Mobile phone road rules 2016

Learner and provisional P1 (red Ps) drivers and motorcyclists

Learners and provisional P1 licence holders are not permitted to use a mobile phone at all while driving or riding.
This includes when waiting at traffic lights or stuck in traffic. You must be parked out of the line of traffic to use your phone in any way.

These laws encourage learner and P1 drivers and riders to concentrate on developing their vehicle control and hazard-perception skills.
Mobile phone use can distract novice drivers and riders from the driving task.

From 22 January 2016, learner and P1 drivers and riders penalised for illegally using a mobile phone (four demerit points) will exceed their demerit point threshold and face a three-month licence suspension.

Changes to help keep L and P plate drivers safer

From 1 December 2016, P2 licence holders will no longer be permitted to use a mobile phone at all while driving or riding. P2 licence holders will have the same restrictions as learner and P1 licence holders.

1. Can I hold and use my phone when waiting at traffic lights, or stuck in traffic?
No. It is illegal to hold and use your phone at any time while driving or riding. If you want to hold and use your phone your vehicle must be parked out of the line of traffic.

2. Can I use my mobile phone for calls if it is on loudspeaker and in my lap?
No. It is illegal to have your mobile phone touching any part of your body, other than to pass it to a passenger.

3. Can I have my mobile phone in my pocket if I’m using Bluetooth to make or receive a call?
Yes, if you have a full unrestricted licence or a provisional P2 licence (green Ps).
You can use a mobile phone for calls if it does not require you to touch the phone in any way (e.g. via Bluetooth).
The rules allow your mobile phone to be in a pocket of your clothing.

No, if you have a learner or provisional P1 licence (red Ps), you are not permitted to use a mobile phone at all while driving.

4. Can I listen to music on my phone if it is in a cradle?
Yes, if you have a full unrestricted licence or a provisional P2 licence (green Ps). You can use the audio playing function of a mobile phone as long as the phone is secured in a mounting fixed to the vehicle and doesn’t obscure your view of the road, or the phone can be operated without you touching any part of it, such as via Bluetooth.

No, if you have a learner or provisional P1 licence (red Ps), you are not permitted to use a mobile phone at all while driving.

5. Can I dial a number if my mobile phone is in a cradle?
Yes, if you have a full unrestricted licence or a provisional P2 licence (green Ps). You can use a mobile phone for calls if it is secured in a mounting fixed to the vehicle. Using a mobile phone legally can still be distracting. Consider if the call is urgent and the demands of the traffic before using your mobile.

No, if you have a learner or provisional P1 licence (red Ps), you are not permitted to use a mobile phone at all while driving.

From 1 December 2016, P2 licence holders will no longer be permitted to use a mobile phone at all while driving or riding. P2 licence holders will have the same restrictions as Learner and P1 licence holders.

6. Can I use the GPS function on my mobile phone?
Yes, if you have a full unrestricted licence or a provisional P2 licence (green Ps). You can use a mobile phone as a driver’s aid, such as GPS, as long as it is secured in a mounting fixed to the vehicle and doesn’t obscure your view of the road. You cannot hold your phone to use the GPS function.

No, if you have a learner or provisional P1 licence (red Ps), you are not permitted to use a mobile phone at all while driving.

7. Can I use a GPS device that is not a phone if I am a learner or provisional P1 licence holder?
Yes. A GPS device that is not a mobile phone is permitted for all drivers, as long as the device is secured in a mounting fixed to the vehicle and does not obscure the driver’s view of the road. The device must not be placed in a location that will increase the likelihood of injury in a crash.

8. Can I send a text message if my mobile phone is secured in a cradle?
No. You cannot text at all while driving, whether or not your phone is secured in a mounting fixed to the vehicle.

9. What kind of cradle can I use for my mobile phone?
Your mobile phone must be in a mounting that is commercially designed and manufactured for that purpose.

10. Where can I attach a cradle to my vehicle?
The mounting must be fixed to the vehicle in the manner intended by the manufacturer. It must not obscure your view of the road (in front and to the sides), and must not be placed in a location that will increase the likelihood of injury to you or a passenger in a crash.

30/11/201613/01/2022

NSW Practical driving experience – Learner Driver Log Book

Research indicates that learner drivers who increase their supervised on-road experience can reduce their crash risk by 30 per cent, in the first two years of solo driving. Learner drivers under supervision have a very low involvement in crashes. It is only when they begin to drive solo that their involvement in crashes increases.

Your learner driver log book allows you and your supervising driver(s) to record your driving experience. Take care of your log book. If you need a replacement log book, you will need to attend a registry or service centre and pay a replacement fee.

You must log at least 120 hours of supervised driving, including a minimum of 20 hours of night driving, before you can attempt the driving test. Night driving hours are between sunset and sunrise.

Driving lessons with an instructor – 3 for 1

For every one hour structured driving lesson you complete with a licensed Driving Instructor, you can record three hours driving experience in your Log Book. A maximum of 10 hours of lessons will be accepted and recorded as 30 hours driving experience.

This doesn’t mean that driving lessons with an instructor are compulsory, or that you should stop having lessons once you reach the 10 hour limit, if you feel you’d benefit from more lessons.

Driving lessons at night (between sunset and sunrise) count for only one hour of night driving. The other two hours are added to your day driving hours.

Log it – Be sure to record these sessions in your Structured Lesson Record Keeper log book insert.

Exemptions
You do not have to complete a Learner Driver Log Book if you:

Are over 25 years old

Previously held a NSW or interstate driver licence, other than a learner licence

Previously held an overseas licence, other than a learner licence

Hold an overseas licence, other than a learner licence, and are issued with a learner licence after failing one driving test

Are specifically exempted by Roads and Maritime Services.

Recognition of log book hours recorded in another state or territory

If you’ve held a learner licence in another Australian state or territory, Roads and Maritime will recognise hours recorded in an interstate learner driver log book, as long as you provide appropriate documentation.

Practice drives planner

The Practice drives planner is available for supervisors, parents and learner drivers to plan on-road driving experiences. The weekly calendar-style planner can be put up on the fridge or on the wall, so that everyone gets a reminder to negotiate dates and times for practice drives.

The planner can also stimulate discussion between the supervisor and learner driver about where to drive, and what skills to practice. It helps when negotiating and developing a driving partnership. Learning goals and learning content can be found in the Learner Driver Log Book.

Remember:

Plan for practice on a variety of types of roads with different levels of traffic
Ensure the learner driver is getting variety in the time of day
Make sure you plan some night drives, preferably later in the process.
Safer Drivers Course

The Safer Drivers Course helps young drivers on their Ls prepare for driving solo when they graduate to provisional licences.

The course teaches learners how to reduce road risks and includes ways to cope when you have your mates in the car or if you’re running late by developing safe driving behaviour.

It’s also designed to help you understand more about speed management, gap selection, hazard awareness and safe following distances, which your parents, supervising drivers or professional driving lessons may not have covered.

Earn credit hours

As well as becoming a safer driver, you can earn a bonus of 20 hours of log book credit once you complete the course, so you only need to finish 100 hours of supervised driving outside the course.

The course has been designed for a learner to attend once, and therefore, the 20 hours of bonus log book credit will only be deducted once.

If you also take 10 hours of professional driving lessons, you’ll receive a further 20 hours of credit on top of the 10 hours you drive during those lessons.

Learner driver Credit Supervised driving hours Logbook total
Safer Drivers Course 20hrs
10hrs of professional lessons 20hrs
Safer Drivers Course and 10hrs professional lessons 40hrs

Professional lessons totalling more than 10 hours will not provide additional credit.

More information

To complete a course, you must be on your Ls , aged under 25 and have completed at least 50 log book hours of driving.

The course costs $140 and includes a three-hour group discussion with other learners and a two-hour in-vehicle coaching session with another learner.

The course is available in almost 250 locations across NSW.

29/11/201613/01/2022

NSW LICENCE RESTRICTIONS FOR LEARNERS

Blood Alcohol Concentration (BAC)
Your BAC must be zero. This means your (BAC) cannot have any alcohol in your system when you drive a vehicle.
Demerit points
Your licence will be suspended if you incur four or more demerit points.
Display of L signs
L signs must be clearly displayed on the front and back of the exterior of the vehicle.
Seatbelts
You must ensure all occupants are properly restrained by seatbelts or approved restraints.
Speed limit
You must not drive faster than 90 km/h and must observe the speed limit where it is
below 90 km/h.
Supervision
A person who has an appropriate Australian full licence (not a learner or provisional licence or an overseas licence) must sit next to you.
Towing
You must not tow a trailer or any other vehicle.
Location restrictions
You must not drive in Parramatta Park,
Centennial Park or Moore Park when in Sydney.
Mobile phone
You must not use any function of a mobile phone, including hands free or loudspeaker
devices when driving.
Licence class
You cannot learn to drive for a higher licence class.

SUSPENSION OR CANCELLATION OF LEARNER LICENCE
A learner who commits driving offences may have their licence
cancelled by a court or suspended or cancelled by Roads & Maritime.
A learner licence can be suspended by Roads & Maritime for offences
such as:
• The learner drives without a supervising driver.
• The learner or passengers are not restrained by seatbelts or child
restraints, as appropriate.
• The learner drives with a passenger(s) in the boot or on the vehicle.

24/03/201613/01/2022

Driver Fatigue STOP, REVIVE, SURVIVE

Driver Fatigue STOP, REVIVE, SURVIVE

Driver fatigue accounts for about 20% of road deaths in NSW. Fatigue is particularly dangerous because it affects everyone, no matter how experienced a driver you are.

What is driver fatigue? Fatigue is a term used to describe the feeling of being ‘sleepy’, ‘tired’ or ‘exhausted’. This is your body’s way of telling you that you need to stop and rest or sleep. The best way to avoid driver fatigue is to make sure you have plenty of sleep before you set off. The only way to treat fatigue once you have already started driving is to stop and rest until you are refreshed.

Facts about driver fatigue

Fatigue fact 1 Fatigue is associated with the hours when you would normally be asleep. The risk of having a fatal fatigue crash is four times greater between the hours of 10pm and 6am because this is when your body is programmed to sleep. Your temperature falls and your blood pressure drops so that at night and to some extent during the afternoon, your ability to perform tasks can be severely impaired. This includes your ability to drive. Your circadian rhythms (natural sleep pattern) cause this type of fatigue and there is nothing you can do to stop it. So if you drive at night or early in the morning your risk of driver fatigue is increased.

Fatigue fact 2 The average person needs about eight hours of sleep each night to function normally, teenagers need even more. When you reduce the number of hours you sleep at night you start to accumulate what is called a ‘sleep debt’. The only way to treat your sleep debt is by sleeping.

Fatigue fact 3 Fatigue is caused by how long you have been awake. After being awake for 17 hours the risk of driver fatigue is greatly increased.

Fatigue fact 4 You have a high risk of suffering from fatigue immediately after you wake up, when you still feel groggy. This is called ‘sleep inertia’ and generally lasts between 15 to 30 minutes. Wait until you have overcome sleep inertia before you drive. All these factors will increase your fatigue.

Fatigue fact 5 The risk of fatigue increases with the amount of time you have spent driving. To reduce fatigue you should aim to stop for 15 minutes every two hours. But remember, the only cure for fatigue is a good night’s sleep.

Signs of fatigue

Driver fatigue severely impairs your concentration and judgement; it slows your reaction time. In fact, some of the effects of fatigue are as dangerous as the effects of alcohol on your driving. As you drive, watch for early warning signs of fatigue:

24/03/201613/01/2022

NSW Driving Test Common Mistakes

The officers agree that the big NSW Driving Test Common Mistakes are the small but important things like signalling – either forgetting to indicate or not doing it for long enough and observation – failing to check your mirrors or blind spots. Stop signs can also be troublesome, particularly when it comes to stopping before the line.

Signalling

Don’t just flick your indicator and drive off, you must signal for at a least 5 seconds before leaving a parking space or moving from a kerb. It is also important to signal at the right time because signalling too early, too late or leaving your indicator on can confuse other road users.

Blind spots

Not checking blind spots is another common error. You need to check your blind spots and mirrors when merging, changing lanes and during your manoeuvres. Drivers often forget to check their left hand side blind spot when turning left off wide roads. Think of it this way, if you could fit a car between the kerb and your car, a head check in your blind spot is required before turning left. You never know when something will be travelling up that part of the road. And don’t forget that an observation check is also required to confirm that it is safe to continue before moving off after being stopped at traffic lights.

Stop signs

A common mistake is not stopping at stop signs and just slowly rolling through. You have to stop the whole car behind the line at a stop sign and traffic lights. Stopping behind the line at traffic lights and then creeping forward does not count – you have to stay behind the line. You can move forward at stop signs when the view may be obscured, but only after you’ve come to a complete stop.

Judgement

Another problem is not selecting safe gaps in traffic. It’s a matter of judgement and experience. Sometimes learners will pull out and misjudge the speed of the car coming towards them or, if it’s a truck, you need to take into account that the truck takes longer to stop than a car.

Right turns

Be decisive, learners trying to turn right at lights can take too long to turn – there may be plenty of room but if you hesitate you can get into trouble.

http://www.rms.nsw.gov.au/geared/your_licence/getting_a_licence/the_big_test.html

20/03/201613/01/2022

SCHOOL BUSES in NSW

SCHOOL BUSES
Be particularly careful when passing stationary buses from 7am–9.30am and 2.30–
5pm. This is when children are travelling to and from school.
SCHOOL BUS LIGHTS
Buses use signs and orange flashing wigwag lights to
warn you that they are picking up or setting down
school children. The lights begin to flash when the bus
stops and the doors are opened. They keep flashing for
about 30 seconds after the doors close and continue
even after the bus moves off. You must not drive past
the bus in the same direction at more than 40 km/h
while the lights are flashing as there may be children
crossing or about to cross the road.
SCHOOL BUS HEADLIGHTS
When buses are dropping off or picking up school children their headlights will
also flash. Be careful when approaching a bus with flashing headlights as there may
be children crossing or about to cross the road.

11/03/201625/03/2016

Camber Driving School Review

Camber Driving School Review

After not being passing my test for 5 times and attending couple of different driving schools, I finally had my driving lesson with Cameron at Camber Driving School today. It was a 2 hour lesson, I was quite nervous but Cameron was very encouraging and calm we went through practising turns and crossing at junctions, parkings. After two hrs we went to rta and then finally i PASSED!!!!
Yayyy I would never have been able to do it without Cameron amazing guidance, he was always calm when I was panicking and gave me confidence in my own judgments.
Thank you so much Cameron.
Cheers
Anum Hammad

15/10/201513/01/2022

Blacktown Driving Test Pass

Hi Cameron,
Thanks again for the quick lessons I had with you.
The feedback that you provided during and after the two-hour lessons helped me regain my confidence and be comfortable during the driving test today which I passed with only one error.
I will surely recommend my friends to do driving lessons with you.
Thank you.

17/09/201502/10/2015

Driving Test Pass Castle Hill

Text from Jessie……

Thanks Cameron !
After only three lessons and I passed my test !
Very bubbly and great driving instructor I have ever had

Jessie

We do driving school lessons in the following suburbs:
Baulkham Hills, Beaumont Hills, Bella Vista, Blacktown, Castle Hilll,
Dean Park, Doonside, Emerton, Erskine Park, Glendenning, Glenwood, Kellyville, Kings Langley, Kings Park, Lalor Park, Marayong, Minchinbury, Mount Druitt, Mt Druitt, Plumpton, Prospect, Quakers Hill, Rooty Hill, Ropes Crossing, Rouse Hill, Shalvey Seven Hills, Stanhope Gardens, The Ponds, Toongabbie, Winston Hills, Woodcroft

16/09/201516/09/2015

Driving Test Pass

Hi Cameron

I just wanted to thank you for being a great instructor and helping me get my licence back. Being a person with above knee amputation no one wanted to give me lessons, you took a chance on me.

Thank you so much I passed yipee !

Deidre