10:34 Jun 21st, 2010 | Notes

While booking my driving test I noticed this in the exam requirements.

The vehicle to be used for the test must not be:

  1. an armoured security vehicle
  2. a vehicle that carries dangerous goods
  3. a federal interstate registered vehicle
  4. a vehicle with trader plates attached
  5. a vehicle carrying livestock
  6. a bus carrying passengers
  7. a vehicle without a reverse gear (except a motorcycle)
  8. any heavy vehicle fitted with a dual accelerator or a dual steering wheel (i.e. road sweepers, garbage trucks, etc)
Source: RTA

Personally I found it quite interesting.

The Universal Truth

4:29 Jun 15th, 2009 | Notes

Let me give it to you straight. Learner drivers are the most hated group of people in the world. I should know, I am one.

It’s also interesting to note that the number of learner drivers will continue to increase for a number of years to come. This isn’t because of birth rates or the number of teenagers turning 16, but because of the rediculous expectations placed on learner drivers. In New South Wales, learners have to complete and log 120 hours of driving before they can take a test to move onto P (Provisional) plates. That’s right, Australia has several levels of learning before you get a full license. 120 hours!!! That’s 5 days worth of driving. The reason that there are increasingly more learner drivers on the roads is because no one can manage to finish their hours so they can move onto P-plates.

Here’s where the hypocrisy starts. Every adult who doesn’t have a 16 year old child will tell you that making learner drivers complete 120 hours is an excellent thing and that it will give learners the experience they need so they won’t go out and drink/take drugs then drive home in sedan with 9 people in the car. FYI, 120 hours of driving doesn’t magically give teenagers common sense, just a strong dislike of the establishment. Back to the hippocrasy. Just wait until these adults have to drive around with a disgruntled teenager who always thinks he’s right even when he goes around a roundabout the wrong direction and then tell me that 120 hours is a good thing. Let me tell you, I’ve had more family conflict in the drivers seat than anywhere else.

But here’s where hipocrasy turns learner drivers into the hated group they are. Once 120-hour-loving adults get in their cars and on the road, their thoughts of learner drivers magically change. We go from being “Those in need of experience” to “Road menaces” and “Those who shouldn’t be on the road”. 120 hours of driving goes from “Valuable experience” to “A burden on other drivers”. We are honked at, cut off, swerved in front of and ever cursed at some times. You name it, we cop it. This hatred comes from one thing, our lack of experience on the road. Sound familiar?

So I implore you, if you see a learner driver on the road, be patient. If I want to change lanes, please give me some space, because I can’t perceive depth in wing mirrors. If I’m going the speed limit, don’t overtake me, that’s just stupid. And If I misjudge a turn in a car park and need to back up, don’t stop as close to me a possible, for heavens sake back up as well!