very proud of myself now had a licence for 12 months

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I have now had my probationary driver licence for 12 months so now 2 years left on probation. No traffic tickets at all I hope it stays that way. It was my biggest achievement so far in my life and somethingh my family never thought possible. It has gone pretty well apart from two very minor fender benders. I was upset about them but talknig to others (who all has minor ones in their first months of driving) and also taking into account factors that caused them it isnt an issue. For those of you unfamiliar with the Victorian (Australia) system this means I can drive alone with restrictions for three years these restrictions are. Victoria has the most strict system of licencing in Australia those under 21 are required to be on Ps for four years I being 28 when licenced are on for three.

* No driving high powered vehicles
* Display P plates on front and back of car you are driving
* .00 Blood Alcohol Concentration whilst driving
* Carry probationary licence at all times whilst driving
* Can only drive automatic vehciles
*Can only lost 5 demerit points in a year before suspension (12 for fully licenced)
*Six month extention on probation if lose licence

The process for picking up the licence kinda sucked and I wrote a letter of complaint I am glad it worked out in the end though. As usual Vicroads screwed up they are completely hopeless. I got the letter in the mail and in excitement went to the nearest office at Hoppers Crossing to recieve my Probationary Licence she asked for the letter and I showed her. She then said "you are getting your learners reinstated right?" I said "no I am getting my Ps" she went away and came back still insisting I was getting my Ls with an automatic restriction added by this stage I was quite upset. She went away again and finally came back and told me they had mucked it up and would fix it for me.

When it finally came time to get my licence and sign it she was going to give me a P1 licence which are only for under 21s, I told her I was supposed to go onto P2 as I was 28 and finally I was given the right licence and left the office I now have the licence in my possession.I will definitely complain though it made my exciting time upsetting and it took a couple of hours to be excited instead.

I've been driving for about nine months, myself. It's really amazing how much more you can do when you can drive, but also pretty depressing, because I wasn't able to drive for quite a long time, and that meant depending on really poor public transportation. In the US, if you're disabled or poor and can't drive, your options are very much smaller than they would be with a car. Is it the same way where you are?

I've had my firearms license for...10 years now. It's amazing what a special interest can do for one's ability (safety course and a heap of forms to fill out--if it weren't an interest, I couldn't have done it).

I have problems with the driving one as it's not my interest, and I've never been interested in driving.

Last edited by Danielismyname on 24 Oct 2009, 8:32 pm, edited 1 time in total.

When you get bad service, you have to complain--Mom taught me that much at least.

Congratulations!

Wow--I didn't know there was so much involved in getting a license in Australia! When I got mine in the U.S. (in Ohio at age 16, in 1981), there were virtually no restrictions except, IIRC, that it could be suspended at six "points" instead of twelve until I turned 18.

Many states here are now imposing graduated restrictions on new drivers, however, because they are statistically so likely to be involved in serious accidents. Age and experience make a big difference, apparently (according to the actuaries anyway).

Congrats! That is a great achievement.

It took me a long time to finally get my license (I was 24) and I was petrified when I took the test. I was so relieved when I finally passed.

Congrats again!!

Yep there is a lot involved in getting a licence here you have to be 16 for a learner permit, 18 for a probationary "P" plate licence and 22 for a full licence. If you get your probationary licence at 21+ you only have to be on probation for three years instead of four and get to avoid passenger and mobile phone restrictions so a lot of people are opting to do that. If you are 21+ you go through the system I mentioned above if you are under 21 there is an extra year on probation as well as passenger and mobile phone restrictions.

Also another reason people tend to wait til 21+ is that they dont have to complete 120 hours on their learner permit before going for their probationary licence. Even though I didnt have to I did end up getting around about that anyway.

YAAAY!! ! I've been on my red P's for 18 months now and I'm going for the test for my green P's in less than two weeks. In NSW I only have to be on my P's for a total of three years (minimum 12 months on red P's then minimum of 2 years on green P's). Once I'm on my greens I have to pass another test to get my full license after that though.

Yeah thats sucks here in Vic once you pass your driver test and Hazard perception test you "graduate" to the next stage by maintaining a good driving record (no suspensions) you dont have to sit anymore tests and that I am glad of. The only test I will havet o dit is if I elect to go for a manual licence I may or may not it depends I do like my car and auto is definitely easier. My car gave me a fright today it took off like a bull at a gate when i changed from reverse to drive dont know why but it was all good no damage just a shock lol.

no fortunately here the public transport is relatively good many people get their licence a lot older than 18 as a result but i then moved to a more isolated part of Melbourne (I am 3.6km) away from the train station and the bus only goes every 45 minutes so ti was one reason I really wanted my licence. I am glad I waited til I was ready though I am a much better driver as a result I may try to go for my manual licence at some stage as well.

I am considering going for a manual licence (getting the auto restriction removed from my licence) but I have to sit another test for that and I tend to pike under tests so I might not we shall see. In a way though it would be a good addition to my achievements.