Building a Foundation
The overall aim of this section is to build a strong foundation upon which to continue the learning process. The primary focus will be on developing basic vehicle control skills.
Learning Goals
- Preparing to drive
- Vehicle controls
- Moving off and stopping
- Steering
- Changing gears
- Scanning
- Reversing
Where to go
Learning is easier in distraction-free zones:
- Quiet back streets
- Long straight roads
- Areas without stop signs, roundabouts, or traffic lights
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1. Preparing to Drive
Learning Goal: Make all the required adjustments to enable safe, comfortable and effective control of the vehicle.
What you need
- Current learner licence.
- L plates correctly displayed.
- Supervising driver seated beside you.
- Registered and roadworthy vehicle.
Learning Content
- Seat and steering column adjustments.
- Correct seatbelt fastening.
- Mirror adjustment.
- Identifying vehicle blind spots.
Facts and Tips
A good driving position promotes effective car control and helps reduce driver fatigue. Correct adjustment of the seatbelt reduces the risk of injury in a crash.
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2. Vehicle Controls
Learning Goal: Locate and understand the function of controls, gauges, and warning lights.
Learning Content
- Foot controls: accelerator, brake and clutch
- Gear lever and gear positions
- Park brake
- Steering wheel
- Signals and lights
- Ignition switch and steering lock
- Windscreen wipers and washers
What you need
- Driver’s seat position correctly adjusted for access to controls.
Additional Areas
- Mirror adjustment and blind spots
- Gauges and warning lights
- Door locks and windows
- Boot, bonnet and fuel cap release
- Relevant information about your vehicle's controls can be found in the owner's manual.
- Learn how to use your windscreen wipers now rather than waiting until you get caught in the rain.
- If you are unfamiliar with any control, do not attempt to learn it while driving; pull over first.
3. Moving off and stopping
Learning Goal: Move the vehicle from and return to the kerb.
Learning Content
- Adjusting and securing seatbelts.
- Starting up and shutting down the engine safely.
- Selecting gear for moving off.
- Coordination of clutch and accelerator.
- Use mirrors before moving off and braking.
- Use of signals for leaving and returning to the kerb.
- Check blind spots before leaving, or returning to the kerb.
- Choosing a safe gap to move from the kerb.
- Use of two stage braking: ‘Set up and Squeeze’.
- Use of park brake to secure the vehicle when stationary, or when moving off uphill.
What you need
You should know the location and function of all the controls you will be using, as well as where the vehicle blind spots are.
Facts and Tips
- You must signal for five seconds before leaving the kerb.
- Correct braking is done in two stages: set up the brakes, then apply pressure.
- Two-stage braking reduces skidding and improves control.
- Stop completely at stop lines, as close to the line as possible.
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4. Steering
Learning Goal: Use a smooth effective method of steering.
Learning Content
- Hand over hand method of steering.
- Pull/push method of steering.
- Hand position on the steering wheel (see photo).
- Look in the direction of turn to see hazards earlier.
What you need
You need to be able to move off and stop reasonably smoothly and safely.
Facts and Tips
- Pull/push steering (sometimes called shuffling) can be used for all turns and manoeuvres.
- Hand over hand steering is an effective method for manoeuvres and tight turns.
- Correct hand position improves steering control and reduces fatigue.
- Keep your hands on the outside of the steering wheel for improved control.
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5. Changing gears
Learning Goal: Change gears smoothly and efficiently to suit road conditions, speed and vehicle requirements.
Learning Content
- Position and use of gear lever.
- Coordination of clutch, accelerator and gear lever.
- Changing up and down gears according to speed.
- Braking and changing down gears to prepare for a corner.
- Selecting gears in an automatic vehicle.
What you need
You will need to be able to steer well enough to keep the car in a straight line and negotiate any corners you might come to.
Facts and Tips
- Gear changing is a physical skill that requires judgement, timing, and practice.
- Do not rush gear changes; pausing briefly in neutral can improve smoothness.
- Use low gears (L or S) in automatic vehicles to reduce brake load on long downhill sections.
- Always check your mirrors before slowing down.
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6. Scanning
Learning Goal: Use your eyes to scan the driving environment for important information and hazards.
Learning Content
Scanning the driving environment including:
- Distance: Look as far ahead as possible. Turn head to see as far as possible in curves.
- Surface: Scan road surface for road markings as well as hazards such as potholes or debris.
- Sides: Look for road signs, entering traffic, pedestrians and other hazards. Scan beyond the edges of the road.
- Mirrors: Regularly check following traffic movement.
- Instruments: Check vehicle instruments, especially speed, using eye movement only with minimum attention diverted from the road.
What you need
You will need to be able to drive around a quiet area with some confidence in gear changing and steering.
Facts and Tips
- The driving environment changes rapidly; avoid looking at any single object for too long.
- Slow down if vision is limited, for example on a crest or curve.
- When scanning, look out for potential hazards that might lead to a crash, such as:
- A pedestrian waiting to cross a road
- A wet road
- Something blocking your view of oncoming vehicles
- Look out for approaching vehicles and parked vehicles pulling out. Scanning helps you see what’s happening on the road, and look out for warning signs alerting you to dangers or changed road conditions ahead.
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7. Reversing
Learning Goal: Safely reverse the vehicle.
Learning Content
Observation when reversing, including:
- Blind spots and vision block-outs
- Using the mirrors and looking through the rear window
- Speed control when reversing
- Steering control when reversing
- Selecting reverse gear
- Three point turns
- Use of reversing aids if fitted to the vehicle
What you need
You will need to have developed good vehicle control to be able to control the car at low speed when reversing.
Facts and Tips
- Many pedestrian crashes involve children being hit by a reversing vehicle. Many of these could be prevented by taking a little extra care with speed and observation when reversing.
- Turning your head and looking out the back window can help your sense of direction.
All vehicles have a large blind spot behind them. Because of this blind spot, extra care must be taken when reversing as small children can be out of view.
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Traffic Skills
The overall aim of this section is to develop the necessary skills to be able to interact with traffic in a range of common situations. Learning goals are more complex and will require a higher level of multi-tasking. Focus will be on gaining experience in traffic, parking the car and understanding and applying relevant road rules.
Learning Goals
- 8. Simple traffic
- 9. Parking
- 10. Complex traffic
- 11. Changing lanes
Diagrams and Demonstrations
Some traffic skills are difficult to explain with words alone, for example: turning right at traffic lights. In these situations a demonstration and/or diagrams will be very helpful.
Where to go
At this stage, the most important aspect of the learning environment is to move gradually and progressively from simple, relatively quiet situations to more complex and busy ones.
Try to:
- Start on single lane roundabouts before progressing to multi lane ones (this may be several sessions later).
- Start on simple traffic lights with relatively low traffic flow.
- Avoid peak hour traffic and complex fast moving environments (eg motorways) at this stage.
- Return to very quiet back streets for practising manoeuvres. Start with relatively flat locations for reverse parking.
8. Simple traffic
Learning Goal: Safely and legally drive in low to medium density, simple traffic situations.
Learning Content
- Stop, Give Way signs and T intersection rules.
- Intersection observation including mirror checks and intersecting traffic.
- Correct road positions to approach and exit turns at intersections.
- Signalling for a turn.
- Single lane roundabouts.
- Simple traffic lights (no turn arrows).
- Other road rules (signs, road markings, edge lines, traffic lights and roundabouts).
- Keep a 3-second gap between you and the vehicle in front.
What you need
Good vehicle control to be able to move off without stalling and steer and stop accurately.
Facts and Tips
- Begin with simple, quiet intersections (single lane, light traffic) and gradually progress to busier more complex ones.
- Choose roads with few pedestrians about.
- Begin to include single lane roundabouts in your driving.
- Supervising drivers may still need to assist with gap selection when joining or crossing traffic.
- Pull over to the side of the road and discuss various situations and rules before they are encountered.
- If practical, you must indicate left when leaving a roundabout.
To get information and diagrams to help you with simple traffic visit nsw.gov.au to read the Road User Handbook. It covers sharing the road with other users, road lanes, lines and markings, as well as stopping, giving way and turning.
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9. Parking
Learning Goal: Park the vehicle safely and legally.
Learning Content
- Reverse parallel parking.
- Angle parking, (45, 60 and 90 degrees):
- front to kerb
- rear to kerb.
- Observation during manoeuvres (blind spots and block outs).
- Positioning the vehicle:
- distance from kerb
- distance from other vehicles.
- Legal requirements for parking.
What you need
Good low speed control and some experience with reversing.
Facts and Tips
- In the Driving Test, you will be randomly allocated a three point turn, a reverse parallel park, or a 45, 60, or 90-degree angle park (front or rear to kerb), so you must learn and practice each one.
- Aim to complete your manoeuvres in less than five direction changes.
- Practice in quiet areas until you are confident in your ability to position the car accurately.
- When rejoining traffic, you must:
- check your mirrors
- signal for at least five seconds
- check your blind spots before steering.
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10. Complex traffic
Learning Goal: Safely and legally drive in medium high density, complex traffic situations.
Learning Content
- Using lanes including meanings of lane markings and types of lanes (bus lanes, transit lanes etc).
- Intersection observation including mirror checks and intersecting traffic.
- Complex intersections including marked turn lanes.
- Multi-lane roundabouts.
- Complex traffic lights with turn arrows (can include bus lights etc).
- Other road rules (lane markings, edge lines, advisory signs etc).
- School zones, pedestrian and children's crossing.
What you need
- Very good vehicle control skills.
- Considerable experience in simple traffic situations (as described in learning goal 8).
Facts and Tips
- Review the Road User Handbook content about sharing with other road users.
- Remember to gradually progress to more complex traffic situations.
- Avoid higher speed complex situations at this stage, for example motorways.
- Supervising drivers may still need to assist with gap selection when joining or crossing traffic.
- Pull over to the side of the road in a safe location and discuss various situations and rules before they are encountered.
- Return to a quieter area if traffic becomes too heavy to cope with.
- Before you start driving in complex traffic refresh your knowledge of give way and turning road rules.
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11. Changing lanes
Learning Goal: Safely and legally change lanes, merge, diverge and overtake other vehicles.
Learning Content
- Meaning of lane lines:
- safe and legal places to change lanes and overtake.
- Selecting a safe gap to change lanes.
- Lane changing procedure:
- check mirrors
- signal intention
- check blind spot
- steer.
- Merging.
- Overtaking vehicles (same procedure as lane change but judgement of oncoming traffic required).
- Reduce speed to respond to the changing conditions.
What you need
You need to have developed some confidence with other traffic around you and have good control skills to be able to adjust your speed and position to effect a lane change.
When a car is crossing a broken line to change into another lane (Car A), it must give way to vehicles already in that lane (Car B).
When two lanes reduce to one lane, the car trailing behind (Car B) must give way to the car ahead (Car A).
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Low risk driving
Low risk driving is consciously choosing to apply driving behaviours that can significantly reduce the risk of crashing.
By now you should have reached most of your learning goals for vehicle control and traffic skills. These form an important foundation for you to now build 'thinking' skills that will help you become a safer driver.
The overall aim of this section is to develop the key elements of low risk driving. The key focus is on identifying common risk situations and developing strategies to help reduce the risk of a crash in those situations.
Learning goals
- Speed management
- Road positioning
- Decision making
- Responding to hazards
Where to go
At this stage, it is important to include a wide variety of learning environments. Remember however, that as new skills are taught it may be better to begin in a quieter environment and then increase traffic volume as confidence grows.
Try to:
- Use a wide range of environments
- Continue to use back streets as many hazards are still present (eg small children)
- If you haven't done so already, start to venture into some unfamiliar environments.
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12. Speed management
Learning Goal: Maintain crash avoidance space to the front of the vehicle by managing the vehicle speed.
Learning Content
- Set and maintain a 3-second gap from the vehicle in front.
- Increase gap and reduce speed in poor conditions.
- When stopping behind a vehicle, keep at least one to two car lengths back from it.
- Reduce speed when vision is limited (crests and curves).
- Reduce speed when it is not possible to create space (buffer) from parked or oncoming vehicles.
- Maintain traffic flow.
What you need
- Some experience with medium to high density traffic.
- Well developed control skills to be able to make minor adjustments to the vehicle’s speed.
Facts and Tips
Keeping a safe distance from the vehicle in front reduces the risk of rear end crashes. These are the most common crash for provisional drivers.
Maintain at least 3 seconds following distance from the vehicle in front.
Increase gap when driving in poor conditions.
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13. Road positioning
Learning Goal: Maintain crash avoidance space to the sides of the vehicle by selecting appropriate road positions.
Learning Content
- Buffering at least one metre from oncoming and parked vehicles.
- Move to the left on crest and curves.
- Avoid driving in the blind spots of other drivers.
What you need
- Some experience with medium to high density traffic.
- Well developed control skills to be able to make minor adjustments to the vehicle’s position on the road.
Facts and Tips
Buffering means to create space to the sides of the vehicle by using the available space to the sides of the vehicle to move away from hazards.
You must allow at least 1m clearance from oncoming traffic.
You must allow at least 1m for parked cars to open doors.
Check blind spots before changing your road position.
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14. Decision making
Learning goal: Make safe decisions when joining or crossing traffic, lane changing or proceeding at traffic lights.
Learning content
- Left turn decisions.
- Right turn decisions.
- Turn across path decisions.
- Lane change decisions.
- Check for traffic when moving off from traffic lights.
What you need
- Experience in medium density traffic.
Facts and tips
- Poor decisions at intersections are a leading cause of crashes, especially for provisional drivers.
- Gaining as much experience as possible with this skill can reduce the risk of future crashes.
- A safe gap is one in which you do not cause other drivers to slow down or move to avoid you.
- When you are crossing traffic you should clear its path with plenty of time to spare (at least three seconds).
- Before you start, refresh your knowledge of give way and merging rules.
Right turn - make sure to check in both directions.
Choose a safe gap so other vehicles are not forced to change speed.
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14. Decision making (continued)
Low risk driving
Be clear of the intersection for 3 secs before other vehicles arrive.
At traffic lights enter the intersection if it is safe.
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15. Responding to hazards
Learning Goal: Protect crash avoidance space by making an appropriate response to hazards.
What you need
- Some experience with medium to high density traffic.
- Well developed control skills to be able to set up the vehicles brakes (see learning goal 3).
- Good scanning technique to identify hazards.
Learning Content
Change speed by:
- Setting up the brakes, covering the brakes or easing off (pausing from the accelerator).
Change position by:
- Buffering from the hazard or changing lanes.
Other actions:
- Checking your mirrors before changing speed or position.
Facts and Tips
A hazard is anything that can potentially move into your crash avoidance space.
Protect your crash avoidance space by responding to hazards.
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16. Driving at night
Learning Goal: Gain experience driving at night time.
What you need
- You can begin driving at night at anytime.
- Make sure you get plenty of practice when you are capable of driving in all traffic conditions so you can get the most out of your night drive experiences.
Learning Content
- Using the headlights.
- Using high beam.
- Use of driving/fog lights.
- Vision restrictions at night.
- Avoiding headlight glare from other vehicles, use of anti glare mirror adjustment.
- Reducing speed when vision is reduced.
Facts and Tips
- Night driving is a high risk time for provisional driver crashes.
- Gaining experience now will reduce the risk of a crash in the future.
- Fog lights may only be used in situations with limited vision (fog, rain, smoke).
- You must turn fog lights off once conditions improve.
- You must complete at least 20 hours of driving at night.
- Night means the period between sunset on one day and sunrise on the next.
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17. Driving in adverse conditions
Learning Goal: Gain experience driving in adverse conditions such as wet weather, fog, snow and ice.
What you need
- You need to know the basics of how to use your windscreen wipers and demisters.
- You also need to be able to accurately measure your distance from the vehicle in front.
Learning Content
- Review use of windscreen wipers and demisters.
- Give extra attention to road surface conditions.
- Increase following distance from three seconds to four or more.
- Reduced visibility.
- Reduced tyre grip requires smoother acceleration, braking and cornering.
Facts and Tips
- Increased observation of pedestrians required.
- Increased crash avoidance space required to respond to hazards so set up earlier.
- Reduce speed to respond to the changing conditions.
- A common crash for provisional drivers is to leave the road on a curve.
- This can occur in wet weather when tyre grip is reduced.
- Take extra care when driving on wet roads.
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18. Country driving
Learning Goal: Gain experience driving in rural environments.
What you need
- Good vehicle control and low risk driving.
- Scanning further ahead for higher speeds.
- You also need to be able to accurately measure your distance from the vehicle in front.
Learning Content
- Sealed highways and country roads.
- Driving on various road surfaces (sealed and unsealed).
- Road rules, signs and traffic marking not previously encountered, for example, narrow bridge, railway and stock crossings.
- Using overtaking lanes.
Facts and Tips
- Applying low risk driving in rural environments (managing speed, position, decisions and responding to hazards).
- Driver fatigue.
- Sharing the road with heavy vehicles.
- Risk of encountering wildlife when driving at dawn or dusk.
- Take advantage of situations like family holidays to get some experience on country roads.
- Remember to share the driving.
- As this is a new experience greater levels of fatigue may be experienced, so change drivers more often.
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19. City and motorway driving
Learning Goal: Gain experience driving in complex and busy city traffic and motorway environments.
What you need
- Good vehicle control and low risk driving skills.
- Excellent scanning for complex fast moving environment.
Learning Content
- Driving in the city (busy commercial centres).
- Driving on motorways including:
- using toll roads, e-tags etc
- using on and off ramps
- driving in tunnels
- following direction signs
- electronic signs (eg variable speed limit signs).
- Low risk driving on freeways including increased following distance for speed and avoiding blind spots of other drivers.
Facts and Tips
- Learner drivers must not drive faster than 90km/h and must observe the speed limit where it is below 90km/h.
- Take advantage of situations like family holidays to get some experience driving on motorways.
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20. Preparing for the Driving Test
Learning Goal: Make sure you are prepared to take your Driving Test.
What you need
- You need to have passed a Hazard Perception Test within the last 15 months.
- You need to have achieved all your learning goals.
Learning Content
- Review each learning goal carefully to make sure you can achieve each one.
- Get a copy of A Guide to the Driving Test and familiarise yourself with the test requirements.
- Book your Driving Test and make sure you have all the relevant paper work you need.
- Make sure you have correctly filled out this log book and will have the required hours by the time you do your test; including at least 20 hours of night driving.
Facts and Tips
- You can book and pay for the Driving Test online at service.nsw.gov.au, by calling 13 22 13, or at a service centre.
- To change or cancel your booking, you must do this at least 24 hours before the test date or your fee may not be transferred or refunded.
- Make sure your vehicle is suitable for safe road use (tyres, lights, mirrors etc) before you present for your Driving Test.
- Learner drivers who are aged 25 and over must pass a Hazard Perception Test, but do not need their Learner Driver Log Book to attempt the Driving Test.
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