The logbook system in Canberra?

jessieduck said :

It took me the minimum six lessons because, like you, I had learnt to drive in my home state. Every lesson my instructor would take me through a variety of competences and then he’d tick them off as we went. There is a midway “test” and a final “test” but with my instructor it was so similar to the regular lessons I barely felt the pressure. I used Brent at Road Ready and thought he was great. The whole Road Ready booking set up was fantastic.

Another thumbs up for Brent at Road Ready.

snoopydoc said :

Um… seriously… people don’t have to sit a normal, standard, proper driving test anymore? I guess that goes part way to explaining the driving antics of the typical P-plater we see on the roads… :-)[/

snoopydoc said :

Um… seriously… people don’t have to sit a normal, standard, proper driving test anymore? I guess that goes part way to explaining the driving antics of the typical P-plater we see on the roads… 🙂

It’s easy to fluke a 40 min driving test.
The logbook has 3 tests in it and also has high speed driving included where the test does not go over 80kph.

I agree that P platters are too young and there is evidence that our brains don’t fully develop risk assessment until about 25years old.
Perhaps there should be a test of mental age instead of every 17 year old getting a licence.
I shouldn’t of been allowed my licence until 25 😉

Some nearly 10years ago I sat the one off test, Failed, at the end of my test, I was told I did everything correct but the “instructor” failed my car, 1982 Holden Gemini, with no grip on my accelerator (might I add it was never made with one), My car was stock standard, I resat the test a few days later – Passed 100% this instructor encouraged me to put in a complaint about the first guy, I did, he was audited, found to have failed every female attempting her Manual licence the first time round, I got my $40 odd back and an apology, The bloke got fired!!

Um… seriously… people don’t have to sit a normal, standard, proper driving test anymore? I guess that goes part way to explaining the driving antics of the typical P-plater we see on the roads… 🙂

You can only complete logbook if you have an act learners or are in defence.
You can change to an act learners if you do the two day road ready course.
The act driving test can be attempted only once with your Vic learners though.

Do you lack the ability to merge? Do you generally sit around 15-25km/h above the speed limit? Do you treat indicators as an optional extra? Do amber lights indicate “carn, softcock” to you?

If you answered yes to any of these questions, you’ll fit in just fine.

A family member who previously learned to drive overseas is currently in the final stages of the logbook. We too are using Brent at Road Ready and are super happy. I think it will be about 12 lessons for this family member, but he had to learn a couple of skills never done before, like parallel parking.

Elizabethany said :

The final review is very similar to the test as they will be testing all competencies, but it is with an instructor who you already know, so there is less pressure.

There is also the chance that you may still have to sit through a practical test. RUS selects drivers who have passed the logbook test at random, to also undertake the practical driving test with an examiner, basically an audit process to ensure that instructors arent passing people who arent qualified.

Elizabethany said :

One last thing is try not to be too discouraged by failing, most people do fail the first try. I did the test twice before the logbook came in, and I am yet to meet a male who passed the first time when doing the test, as the instuctors are particularly hard on them.

That is what Ive heard also. Pretty much even if youre a perfect driver, you will always fail on your first test (if youre young and male and think youre god on the road, you’ll probably fail your second test too). The story I heard is that it stops new drivers getting a big head, it makes you (hopefully) realise that youre not god on the road, and that you need to refocus and try again.

The logbook covers 22 competencies, and you’ll generally get signed off on one or two per lesson, plus the interim and final test. The advantage (for the driver, not for the public) is that if you wouldnt pass say the merging competency, they just make you do it over and over again, until you pass it, then sign you off.. great to get your licence easy, but not great if you dont understand what theyre teaching you and they move onto the next subject.

I did it a while ago, back when it was new (I was on my L’s when it was introduced) but it hasn’t changed much since then. Basically, during your lessons the instructor will check that you can do the basic compentencies and sign them off as you complete them. The book will tell you how many times you need to complete something for it to be checked off (such as 2 hill starts etc). Once you have done the first set, there will be a review, which should be similar to a normal lesson, but they will go through all the previous competencies. Rinse and repeat with the second set. The final review is very similar to the test as they will be testing all competencies, but it is with an instructor who you already know, so there is less pressure.

Personally, I think it is a brilliant system, as it encourages driving practice and using professional instructors. I used Gary at Apex (and he is still kicking round last time I heard) and he was very good, though his jokes were terrible, so bad they were funny.

One last thing is try not to be too discouraged by failing, most people do fail the first try. I did the test twice before the logbook came in, and I am yet to meet a male who passed the first time when doing the test, as the instuctors are particularly hard on them.

It took me the minimum six lessons because, like you, I had learnt to drive in my home state. Every lesson my instructor would take me through a variety of competences and then he’d tick them off as we went. There is a midway “test” and a final “test” but with my instructor it was so similar to the regular lessons I barely felt the pressure. I used Brent at Road Ready and thought he was great. The whole Road Ready booking set up was fantastic.