What did you have to do to get your licence?

[jcxr]

Originally Posted by 2011G6E

The further you go back, the easier it was...

My late father turned up to get his licence on his 21st birthday back in 1936. He'd of course been driving on the cane farm outside Childers since he could reach the pedals. He drove into town, dropping his father off at a hardware store, and went to the police station to see about getting his licence. The copper took the details, and said "I suppose we'd better go for a drive then". They went outside and the cop looked around, seeing only my fathers 1926 Chev 4 tourer and no one in sight, and said "Who drove you here?", and my old man said sheepishly "Erm...dad did." The cop said "Hang on, I know you...I've seen you driving into town to get stuff for that farm on the hill...you cheeky little bugger...I suppose we should just go and write you out a licence then...come on inside."

Similiar to my old man in the late '40's. He was driving home from the Sale aerodrome and saw the local copper peddling his pushbike a fair distance out of town. gave him a lift into town, and when they unloaded his bike, the old man asked re licence. Issued there and then.

[msman]

turned 16 first chance i had got my L's.
Dad layed down the law and said I have to satisfy him that I could drive by the time I was 18 in order to be able to get my P's. So I annoyed the hell out of him for 2 years by kepping the car keys in my pocket and jumping in the drivers seat everytime he went any where near the car, racked up more than the 200 hours recommended at the time.
Had 2 lessons with an instructor who shaked dad's hand and said you did a good job teaching him.
Got my licence first go.
Dad went on holidays about 2 months after i got it and i went and spun the ef in the wet after going over an oil patch, went over the median strip into the service lane and it stopped inches short of the gutter, suffice to say it din't go down well when I told him what happened, but it onyl needed a wheel allignment, gutter on median strip was rounded and very low.

[prydey]

and yet people say it is too easy to get a licence these days.... oh the irony!

[gossy]

Took my John Goss Special to the old Nerang DOT, passed my test with flying colours after getting comments of "I haven't been in one of these since '75", got my paper ticket and layed two black lines on the way out.

[Coyote mk3]

I might add some more detail incase some are wondering how it is currently done in QLD

16th birthday I walked into QLD Transport and completed the 30 questions required. Of which you are allowed to get 3 questions wrong (2 in one section, 1 in another.) However I did get 30/30.

I had completed the required 100 hours (incl 10 at night) within 5-6 months. However you cannot sign the logbook until you are 17 years of age. So On my 17th birthday I sent the logbook away and sat waiting impatiently for 2 weeks for them to get back to me.

As soon as they Ok'd the logbook I organised a driving exam in my own car.
To do the test they just checked basic things on the car for roadworthy and to make sure you know where everything is. Such as lights, horn, indicators etc.

In the exam I just drove around for 30 mins, completing a 3 point turn (which intrestingly enough they now call a turn around and you can do it in as many points as you like I believe), parallel park behind a car next to a gutter and a hill start.

Passing the exam I got my red P's which you must hold for a min of 12 months.
To move onto Green P's I had to complete an online hazard perception test.
Which is just a number of videos of real world driving where you must click the hazard on the road before the driver reacts.

Once completed QLD transport sent a letter that I just had to take in, they just retook my photo and gave me a license with P2.

I envy many of you with the whole drive down to the cop shop and drive the sgt round for 15 mins thing.

EDIT: Didn't see IBO's comment - he summed it up better than me

[Bushbasher]

I got my L's the day after my 16'th birthday and took my first test 4 weeks later, this was in Whyalla. Did the regulation hill starts, parallel parking, reversing into alley, etc. and was blitzing it, or so I thought. When we got back the instructor failed me. I gave way to a school boy who was 3 strides onto the road at an intersection in the middle of the main street as I got there to turn left. I stopped as I was entering the corner and let him get to the middle of the road before I continued through. Apparently I shouldn't have given way . When I challenged the guy and said "what was I supposed to do, run him over?", no, I was supposed to somehow force him to back to the curb even though the kid had no intention of stopping.. I don't think he liked the idea of me getting my licence only a month after my birthday. I had to wait the mandatory 3 weeks before I could go again and ended up getting it 1 week before P plates became law in SA.


Bushbasher

[Burnout]

/\ LOL!
I got my 'L' plates in the mail along with my L license. The next day my old man rang the Sgt who said it would be ok to come in.
Went to town the next day with the old bloke parked outside the Police Stn and waited.
A couple o minutes later the Sgt came along, hopped in and said, drive left, I did, intersection, he said, "Turn right." I did. Then, "Turn left", then "do a U turn", I did. He said "Park here", I did. He got out, went in and paid the monthly owing on the HP furniture, then got back in.
I drove him back to the Police Stn and two weeks later I got my license in the mail. It was paper, no photo.
I wondered what I was to do with the letter I had from the NSW Minister of Transport giving me permission to drive the old mans Semi from the paddock up the road to the Silo in wheat season....
Five years ago now, I thought, I'm not doing this any more - too old! So I handed in my Road Train License (MC) and now can only drive 'HC' types when I have to.

[EL2794]

Sweet stories, it seems to have changed rather alot and varied person to person.

I noticed these are now available:
http://www.bseenlplates.com/



I would rather walk than have used this...

[Werd.]

Originally Posted by EL2794

Sweet stories, it seems to have changed rather alot and varied person to person.

I noticed these are now available:
http://www.bseenlplates.com/

image

I would rather walk than have used this...

Super lame, L plate casually tucked behind the numberplate did it for me.

P plates, wear 'em proud, 2 on the front.

[creative]

I had 5 lessons, took my theory test (100%) two weeks later took my test and got my full license.

Bit easier in the uk!

[Trevor 57]

Originally Posted by EL2794

Sweet stories, it seems to have changed rather alot and varied person to person.

I noticed these are now available:
http://www.bseenlplates.com/

image

I would rather walk than have used this...

I have seen this ads on TV, I find them interesting as the regualtions say that the L Plates must be on the front and rear of the car/vehicle

From the Victoria Road Safety (Drivers) Regulations -2009

7 Learner driver must display L plates
(1) A learner driver must not drive a motor vehicle (other than a tractor) on a highway unless—
(a) an L plate is displayed facing out from the rear of the motor vehicle so that the letter "L" is clearly visible from a distance of 20 metres behind the vehicle; and

(b) in the case of a vehicle other than a motor cycle, an L plate is displayed facing out from the front of the vehicle so that the letter "L" is clearly visible from a distance of 20 metres ahead of the vehicle.

I am pretty confident that these don't meet the Regs as above as they are in the centre of the vehicle

[Hayden1]

Originally Posted by Big Trev

I have seen this ads on TV, I find them interesting as the regualtions say that the L Plates must be on the front and rear of the car/vehicle

From the Victoria Road Safety (Drivers) Regulations -2009



I am pretty confident that these don't meet the Regs as above as they are in the centre of the vehicle

I remember hearing that in NSW you can have them on the front and rear exterior of the vehicle OR on the roof.

[Torment47]

Originally Posted by Pedro

Bit different for my semi-trailer licence. Gave the desk sargeant $20 ... here's your licence. (NO ... I ain't tellin where).

If i give you $20 , would you tell me where?

[LANKY 1]

passed my L test at 16. had to pass all give way questions right to advance to the rest of the test. Got all my log-book driving done by the time i was 16.5, then was on my P's till 19. Cos i was out celebrating my birthday i ripped out the p plates at midnight. was good being able to do 110 on the way home

[blackf6]

I got my L plates after about a 60 question test. Then after 6 months i went for my P plates got that then was on my opens in 12 months. Then 3 and a half years later i went for my Hr. Driving a bob tail around my town. Then for my Mc i had to first back a hc round a corner then i had to hook up a b double and reverse it in a straight line for 100 meters. And do a 2 day course.

[Trevor 57]

Originally Posted by Hayden1

I remember hearing that in NSW you can have them on the front and rear exterior of the vehicle OR on the roof.

Yes you are right for NSW

Learner licence holder must be supervised in vehicle and display “L” plates

(cf cl 12 (1) and (2A) 1999 Reg)

(1) The holder of a learner licence must not drive a motor vehicle (other than a motor bike or motor trike) on a road or road related area unless:
(a) the seat next to the learner is occupied by a person who holds an Australian driver licence (not being an Australian learner licence or provisional licence) authorising the holder to drive such a vehicle, or by a police officer or a person authorised by the Authority to test drivers who is submitting the learner to a driving test for the purposes of this Regulation, and
(b) a sign, issued or authorised by the Authority and displaying the letter “L” in black on a yellow background, is displayed:
(i) on the exterior of the vehicle in a conspicuous position at the front and the rear of the vehicle, or a conspicuous position on the roof of the vehicle, and
(ii) in such a manner as to be clearly visible and not to in any way obscure the letter “L” on the sign when viewed from ahead of or behind the vehicle.

[LANKY 1]

^^ not long ago i saw a car, had 2 L plates on the rear bumper, and 2 in the rear window. in front were 2 plates in the window and 2 on the front bar. wasn't a "L" driver instructors car. found it quite funny, pretty sure it was some oldish person driving by themselves.

[castellan]

Originally Posted by flappist

Drove the local Sgt down to the river to check his crab pot, reversed back up the hill and drove back to the cop shop.

Motorcycle was ride around the block and then check for blood.

He had been chasing us for years through the bush, he knew who could drive

Old D R was a good Sgt. and he had a blue XY falcon.
Them 250 falcons chase

[EL2794]

Originally Posted by LANKY 1

^^ not long ago i saw a car, had 2 L plates on the rear bumper, and 2 in the rear window. in front were 2 plates in the window and 2 on the front bar. wasn't a "L" driver instructors car. found it quite funny, pretty sure it was some oldish person driving by themselves.

With 'Be Patient' printed over the back bumper... I certainly have enough time to read it as they are pretty slow.

[flooded one]

I got my Ps in a dirty old hyundai excel. passed first go but thought i wouldnt get it after i had words with my absoulte **** of an examiner about a corolla i apparently didnt give way too at a roundabout. told him "he didnt hit us. i didnt hit him. he was ages away, if i didnt give way there'd be a bloody corolla throught the door!!" I'm suprised he passed me after that haha!!

[Franco Cozzo]

Passed the Ls test a month or so after I turned 16, then I did about 200 hours of driving with the old man, I got my license late, I turned 18 in Sep 2009, but I didn't get my license until March 2010 because I couldn't be bothered and I didn't really NEED it up until then, I bought my new WS Fiesta around mid 2009 but didn't really drive it much because I only had my Ls, the old man would let me drive him around in it every now and again.

I had to do the hazard test, which is some BS computer test, once I passed that I booked in for the test, all I had to do was drive around Sunbury for 50 minutes, did a 3 point turn, then drove for the rest of the time, that was it.

Pulled back into VicRoads Sunbury, where my examiner proceeded to yell and scream at me (I thought I was going awesome), tell me I'm the most dangerous driver she's ever tested and how could someone with so many hours logged be such a bad driver, then she takes me inside and gives me my license, I was like WTF, my instructor was like WTF and I've been on the road since March 9th 2010, lol.

[flooded one]

lucky for me i got my Ps in 2001 was easier back then too get your Ps (in queensland) some of the examiners are *********. thou when i got my HR licence a few years back the examiner i got was really nice. had a nice old chat with him while i drove about toowoomba. was very relaxing i was nervous at first but after a few minutes i calmed down. passed with flying colours didnt make a mistake!! I kinda feel a bit sorry for some of the younger learners these days with all logged hours they have to do. especally the ones that have to go through driving schools because they dont have access too a car. must cost an absoulte fortune too get 100 hours up in a driving school. poor kids.