lol!! i think he's referring to what us aussies abbreviate as the "provisional riders license test" sorry jonathan, i haven't heard anything, but then i haven't been paying much attention
I ahve not hear any rumours about that in vic, though perhaps in NSW it is different. However, almost everyone (riders and politicians alike) all say the course needs to be changed down here, but the problem is that they don't agree with what it should be changed to - thus it isn't changing. (Generally speaking riders say hazard perception should be the focus - teach us what to look for so we can avoid it early, with some emphasis on how to avoid should we get into trouble. Politicians say it should be pure skills - stopping and turning.)
Could someone take a moment to explain the Aussi Licensing set-up to me? I'm just a dumb Yank and have no clue to the outside world. L's, P's & Q's.... What the heck? LOL
The system - note that it varies state->state so I am trying to be generic and I may get some facts wrong for other states (so please correct me)... Generally - you get your learners (l's; minimum 3 months), then your provisional license (p's; 3 years), then your full license. You must pass 'appropriate' knowledge and road tests to progress. The q you refer to is specific to Queensland, where they have a 'q-ride' program which is a specific course designed for new riders to become competent. L's-> when you turn 18 (I think...) you can go get your 'L' license. In a car this means you can only drive with a licensed driver in the passenger seat. On a bike it varies. In victoria you are limited to a 250 bike, no pillion, no alcohol. in NSW you can ride anything up to 700 provided it falls below a certain power:weight ratio (note: the fzr250 is at the maximum that power:weight ratio can be, so it is not very high), in Queensland it means you can ride any 250 but must be followed by a licensed rider... Also no pillions, and no alcohol in your system at all. To get your l's for the car you go to the appropriate road authority office, and if you pass you get it. For the bike you need to take a 1 day training course, and then you get your l's. P's-> After you have been on your l's for 3 months at a minimum, you can then go for your p's. In a car you book a road test at the road authority, and if you pass that (and another written) then you get your p's. For a bike you go back to the training school again and they will test you (I think some states do a road test, other ones do it in an enclosed area). With P's on a bike same restrictions as with your l's for the first year (except in queensland, where you no longer need anyone following you and I beleive there are no bike restrictions). After the first year there are no restrictions (note: if you already had a full car license, and then go for your bike license you do not get your P's again, instead you are simply on a restricted license for 1 year following the l's). Full-> If you have been on your p's for 3 years, and have not lost your license in that time or been otherwise naughty (i.e. drunk driving) then you automatically receive your full license where you can drive/ride anything. The future-> There is now a new system that will be tested in Victoria and New South Wales which is essentially a graduated licensing program. New drivers will have restricted power in the vehicles that they drive, and will have limitations placed on the number of passengers in the car, and there may also be restrictions in terms of the times that they can travel. From my understanding this will not influence the bike system as it primarily targets new drivers buying a turbo-charged v8...
Thanks for the reply Boz. I was just joking on the Q's part. Must be an American thing. "Mind your P's and Q's" meaning mind your manners and be polite. Here in the US it varies from state to state as well, but in general it is the same across the country. It is also pretty screwed up after I thought about it for a bit, so I'll try to explain. The info that I am providing is from two different states on opposite corners of the country. Learners permit: You go in and take a written test. If you pass, then you get a permit that is good for 6 months. REGARDLESS OF THE SIZE BIKE YOU OWN or don't own. Okay, that's the screwed up part. Full License: You go in and take a Written test and then take a Driving test. The Driving test is usually in a closed parking lot that is striped off for just this purpose. Now if you take the test on say, a GS 500, then you are limited in the motorcycles that you can ride legally. Which would be 500cc's and less. But if you take the test on say, a GS 550 ES (like I did) you can ride any size bike. And folks over here wonder why the fatality rate is so high in the first 6 months of riding. (See Learners Permit)
i am in qld and it totally sux ass <!-- s:sniper: --><img src="{SMILIES_PATH}/icon_snipersmilie.gif" alt=":sniper:" title="Sniper" /><!-- s:sniper: --> i got my motorcycle l's 1 day before my p's but i didnt have my open car licence for 3 years or some **** so, my p's will freaking last till 7/07!!!!!!! u only get 4 points and it sux! <!-- s --><img src="{SMILIES_PATH}/icon_sad.gif" alt="" title="Sad" /><!-- s -->
hold up, drop the cake, i got it!!! did some research and it turns out that i can do another q-ride course and get my unrestricted bike licence yeah yeah, i am now savin for another bike, man am i tanked <!-- s:alcoholic: --><img src="{SMILIES_PATH}/icon_all_coholic.gif" alt=":alcoholic:" title="Alcoholic" /><!-- s:alcoholic: -->
