Road Safety

In the absence of demonstrably effective and cost-efficient training methods, actual driving experience on the road network remains the most practical and available method of improving skills for the great majority of novice drivers. Of course, accumulating this experience on the roads entails exposure to the risk of accident. It is likely that the varying legislative and regulatory frameworks among Australian states and territories influence the level and variety of experience learner drivers acquire before graduating to solo driving. Licensing authorities currently have limited information about the amount and variety of experience acquired during the learner period under different licensing regimes. This report includes a survey of novice drivers who have qualified under the following licensing frameworks: South Australia's Competency Based Training and Assessment (cumulative multi-session assessment by commercial driving instructors); South Australia's Vehicle On Road Test (single session assessment by commercial driving instructors); and New South Wales' single session assessment administered by public servants.