Smart Driver Lessons

My clients book lessons and pay for packages through the Rightway Driving School. 

Rightway provide a number of packages which are listed at https://rightwaydriving.com.au/Packages – the driving lesson vouchers are valid for 12 months. Probably best to get a 5-lesson pack (https://rightwaydriving.com.au/Product/9119/05-Lesson-Credits) to start with to get most of the basics covered off, but the choice is yours. When paying for the vouchers, you have the opportunity to create an account for the new learner driver. 

• • If you create the account in a child’s name, you can share the vouchers as a gift.

Check my current week’s view of my Calendar, and then adjust for the week you’re looking for.

You can change the suburb to match home, school, shopping centre, work or a friends location.

Some clients like to book a few lessons in automatics before changing to manuals later in the cycle so that they can cover off road basics first.

Driving Instructors have different personalities as can each clients. You can book lessons with a couple of instructors to find which one you relate to best – yes, you can change later on as well.

Once you’ve decided on your instructor:

• • stay with the same one to get a consistent message
  • book a few in advance to make sure you get the time slot that works for you.

When you pay for the lesson, just use the vouchers previously purchased.

If the learner is under 25, the first 10 hours of instruction count 3-hours for 1-hour (except night-time driving, which remains 1 for 1).

If you completed driving experience in another Australian state/territory or another country and want it to count towards your 100 hours, you must complete the prior driving experience form (F4450). 

There are lots of reasons to fail the Driving Test. Breaking the road rules and driving unsafely are usually the two major causes of these failures.

These failures are normally brought on by nerves.

A few common things that people fail include:

• • Not performing head checks on blind spots
  • Failing to signal properly
  • Disobeying traffic signs, signals, or markings
  • Not coming to complete stops at red lights or stop signs
  • Sitting on top of a Keep Clear
  • Performing illegal acts or manoeuvres
  • Hitting the kerb
  • Speeding (or driving too slowly)
  • Causing other drivers to change their behaviour to accommodate your driving.

You can only have a Driving Test if you:

• • are at least 17 years of age
  • have held their learners licence for at least 12 months
  • are less than 25 and have completed the QLD log book
  • have received notice from the TMR that the logbook has been completed
  • you have passed the Hazard Perception Test

You can apply for a Driving Test date before these conditions are completed.

If you want to conduct the Driving Test in the your Driving Instructor’s vehicle and have a quick recap session before the test, conduct the Driving School:

• • Call Rightway on 07 5500 4000 to organise a mutually convenient time and to pay for the time.

If you want to complete the Driving Test in your own or someone else’s vehicle:

• • Go to the TMR website
  • Select the first option: “To book use the driving test booking service”.
  • Enter your licence number and select test type as “Class C/CA – Car (manual/automatic)”
  • Select area of i.e., “Gold Coast / Logan” (or preferred location).
  • Go through the options specifying the test centre and taking the booking date and time offered. 
  • And you’ll have to pay for a new licence test cost.
  • Record the booking reference number.

For a number of different reasons, Learners may cancel previously booked test dates. To find a date that is earlier than the one you have just been allocated, you can reschedule the driving test:

• • Go to the TMR website
  • Select the second option: “Reschedule driving test booking” service
  • Now you need to use booking reference number from the previous step to change the booking.

Every time you reschedule a booking you may get a new booking reference number.

If your booking is in the next couple of days, it probably cannot be rescheduled any closer.

The more times you refreshing/reload the browser screen the greater the chance of finding earlier learner cancellation dates.

There is no guarantee that you will find a cancellation – you are competing with others performing the same action.

You can apply for an exemptions to request that the TMR evaluate if you can reduce the hours – check a subsequent FAQ.

If you have booked your test via the Rightway driving school, you can meet your Driving Instructor:

• • at the designated test centre
  • from your home address
  • or at any other agreed location.

You will need to bring with you:

• • your driving licence (L, out of state or international)
  • if necessary, an English translation of the driving licence
  • have the registration number of the vehicle you are driving
  • have permission of the registered operator to use the vehicle for the test
  • bring a currently registered and roadworthy standard test vehicle with correctly displayed L-plates
  • have your returning driver certificate – if applicable
  • financial means to purchase the next level of driving licence.

When using the Rightway Test Day package you get:

• • a 40 minute lesson to recap manoeuvres, check out the local road work areas and just try and relax ahead of the test
  • assistance to register for the test and cover off any preliminaries
  • a maximum of 35 minutes with Driving Examiner to check your safe driving habits
  • assistance with the process when you pass (or fail) the test.

When you pass the test

• • If you hold a learner licence, interstate licence or foreign licence, you must pay the licence fee before your new licence can be issued.
    • If you pass your test on a Saturday, you can go to any Test Centre during the week to get an upgrade to your licence – does not have to be where you passed the test.
  • You will be given a driver licence receipt authorising you to drive until your new licence is received in the mail.
  • You must remove your L-plates before you leave the centre.
  • If you are issued with a P1 or P2 licence, you must display the relevant P-plates.
  • If you are not authorised, you cannot drive away in a High Powered Vehicle.

If you fail the test, the Driving Instructor can go over the fail areas of the test, and discuss with you next options going forward.

After the test has finished:

• • you can be picked up by parents / support network at the Test Centre
  • drive or be driven home
  • drive or be driven to any other pre agreed location.

A number of different exemptions exist:

• • Learner Logbook Exemption – you must hold a learner licence, be under 25 and be able to prove that
    • no car is reasonably available to you to learn to drive
    • no supervisor is reasonably available to supervise your driving
    • the road network where you live is significantly limited
  • High-Powered Vehicle Restriction Exemption – For vehicles manufactured on or after 1 January 2010 a HPV is
    a car that has:
    • a power-to-weight ratio of more than 130kW/tonne
    • an engine modification requiring approval under section 13 of the Transport Operations (Road Use Management Vehicle Standards and Safety) Regulation 2010 (the VSS Regulation).
  • Late Night Driving Exemption – you may wish to apply if:
    • you need to drive between 11pm and 5am.
  • Alcohol Ignition Interlock Exemption – You may be eligible if:
    • You have a medical condition
    • You live in a remote location
    • You live on an island
    • You or your family member will experience severe hardship if you are not granted an exemption.

Processing of each exemption application submitted costs.

Please note:

• • The lodgement of an application does not guarantee it will be approved.
  • Your application cannot be considered at the time of lodgement. It must be forwarded for assessment which may include consideration of your traffic history.
  • Advisement of the outcome is subject to timings from the QLD TMR.
  • If you are granted an exemption to the completion of the 100 hours of supervised driving experience you will need to hold your learner licence for 2 years.

You don’t have to have pay for any lessons at all, or even employ a Driving Instructor!

However, it is a good idea to have a few lessons at the start to get the basics right, and then more when it is closer to the test date to make sure the good habits have stuck.

It is important to remember that each lesson should result in the client learning something new – if not, something has to change, the school or the driving instructor.

Each client is different, some are quick learners, for others a few more lessons may be needed.

How quick do you want to learn?

You can have lessons:

• • in 1- or 2- hour slots
  • every day or every other day
  • once a week
  • once a month

It depends on how much support you are getting to practice in between lessons and how quick you want to get up to speed.

PCYC Braking the Cycle (BTC) is a volunteer driver mentor program designed to support learner drivers without access to a supervisor or registered vehicle to complete their logbook hours.

The aim of the program is to provide young people with increased employment opportunities, community connection and driver education.

My preference is to have the first few lessons in my vehicle – it has dual control.

• • As a rule of thumb, dual controls should only really be used by instructors in emergencies—in other words, a situation that requires instantaneous action. In non-emergency scenarios, meanwhile, it’s better to urge the learner to remedy the situation themselves, instead of just automatically taking over.
  • Dual controls are not an aid to teaching; they are a safeguard, only for use when learning needs are overcome by safety considerations.
  • Instructors who make excessive use of dual controls, are obviously not suited to the job.

Once you are safe to drive without controls we can look to drive in your vehicle.

Things to consider when driving in your own vehicle:

• • The Driving Instructor will expect the vehicle to be safe and road worthy
  • The vehicle owner will ensure that the insurance fully covers the driver and passenger(s).

Note that the Driving Instructor

• • does not have insurance coverage for your vehicle
  • there is no indemnity coverage
  • is not responsible for any damage incurred during the lesson or test.

On with the “P” plates!

• If you are under 25, the P1 Red plates must be displayed for the first 12 months of driving. After one year, and, if still needed, to pass the Hazard Perception Test, you can the display the P2 Green plates.
• If you are 23 or older when you pass you only need to display the P2 Green plates for one year.

Some people say you never truly start learning to drive until you take to the road on your own.

It’s going to be scary but with a little preparation you’ll be able to head out on your own with confidence.

Be sure to make your first trip alone is on route you already know well, don’t have your music too loud to the point it becomes distracting and it’s best to leave your friends at home the first time you drive solo.

• Your Driving Instructor should have been practicing these routes with you already

Certain restrictions apply when you drive using a P1 or P2 licence. These restrictions also apply if you are driving on a probationary P1 or P2 licence after serving a suspension.

• Peer passenger restriction (P1 only)
• Mobile phone restrictions
• High-powered vehicle restriction
• Late night driving restriction

If you fail the test, the Driving Instructor can go over the fail areas of the test, and discuss with you next options going forward.

The severity of the failure(s) should determine whether lessons are required before the next test.

If you hold a foreign licence and you fail a practical driving test:

• • You will lose the authority to drive on your foreign licence.
  • You will be able to use your foreign licence for the next practical driving test you take, but you will not be able to use the foreign licence to practise driving.
  • You will have to apply for a Queensland learner licence if you need to practise driving before taking your next test.

If you fail a class C (or CA) practical test, you must wait before you can take the test again:

• • if you failed your first attempt, you can resit the test the next day
  • if you failed your second attempt, you can resit the test 8 days later
  • if you failed your third (or higher) attempt, you can resit the test 29 days later.

You can book to resit your practical driving test before the cooling off period has ended.

The only options for vehicle usage during a test is either:

• • a Driving School vehicle 
  • bring your own supplied vehicle.

The test centre do not provide vehicles.

To use your own supplied vehicle:

• have permission of the registered operator to use the vehicle for the test
• enter the registration number on the Driving Test form at the test centre 
• bring a currently registered and roadworthy standard test vehicle with correctly displayed L-plates
• ensure that all indicators, brake lights and the horn operate correctly
• if you passed the test and are issued with a P1 or P2 licence, you must display the relevant P-plates to drive it away
• If you are driving in a High Powered Vehicle ensure that you have an exemption from the QLD TMR to drive the vehicle on a P1 or P2 licence.

It is not possible to allow the Learner to drive a car on public roads without a valid licence on his/her person.

• • A photo held on your phone is not suficient, it has to be the physical asset
  • An international licence is not valid if the client has previously failed a test.

Therefore, there will be no driving taking place during the driving lesson.

The driving instructor may conduct a lesson covering theory or techniques within either a stationary or moving vehicle (driven by the driving instructor). 

The cost of the lesson is forfeited if the client does not wish to cover theory or techniques.

If the client turns up to a test centre without the licence, they have the option of purchasing a replacement licence.

All learner drivers must pass the hazard perception test before upgrading their licence.

A Driving Test cannot be conducted if the HPT has not been passed.

If the client is driving, the client is in charge of the vehicle. And is therefore liable for speeding fines.

Where the client uses their own supplied vehicle, the client, or someone in their support network, is deemed responsible for insurance and liability coverage. The client’s insurance is expected to operate at a comprehensive level.

Where the client uses the Driving Instructors vehicle:

• • Generally, where the learner has followed all instructions of the driving instructor there will be no liability. Where the learner has ignored instructions (or followed them incorrectly) and in so doing has caused an accident to occur, the learner driver will be liable for any insurance excess payable.
  • Insurance excess for learner drivers is currently $1,000 per accident but may vary between vehicles.
  • If the accident is caused by another driver then there is no liability for the learner driver.
  • In a practical driving test with a Government Licenced Examiner (the Instructor is not present in the vehicle during the practical driving test) and the learner driver fails to follow the directions given by the Examiner, the learner driver will be responsible for the lower of the cost of repairs relating to damage caused or the insurance excess applicable, should the vehicle be damaged for whatever reason.

The safety of our customers is held to the highest standards. Accordingly the vehicles:

1. 1. have at least 5 star safety rating (which means ABS breaks and air bags)
   2. are regularly serviced by reputable mechanics to ensure that the vehicle is in excellent condition
   3. kept clean inside and outside
   4. are checked regularly by the instructor to verify lights, indicators, tyres and glass are all in working order.

Driving Instructors are members of the ADTA and hold current Professional Indemnity and Public Liability insurance.

All vehicles are comprehensively insured with reputable insurance companies.