had licence six months

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I have now had my probationary driver licence for six months so now 2.5 years left on probation. 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 system this means I can drive alone with restrictions for three years these restrictions are.

* 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.

those restrictions are absurd. automatics only? do they WANT to create poor drivers?

here you only have to do the probationary stuff if you get a license under 18/21 (cant recall which) and it's not nearly that bad. getting a commercial license here was easier than yours sounds

imagine driving an 18 wheeler with "student driver" on it, people give you a wiiiiiide berth

that stuff is still absurd though, idiots will be idiots, probation or not

Might as well give you a scooter ...

Let's compare that with US laws!! !! !

* No driving high powered vehicles

New drivers are AT BEST, HIGHLY discouraged in the US from doing this. I got a FREE corvette from my father, but they wouldn't give me insurance for it at a reasonable price, so....

* We get a 3 demerit point and 250$ fine for doing so.


* Display P plates on front and back of car you are driving

*As above




* .00 Blood Alcohol Concentration whilst driving

TECHNICALLY the same in the US. A .08+ level could land you in jail.

* It is .under .05 for fully licenced and .00 (no alcohol at all) for learners, probationers, returning drink driving offenders, taxi drivers, bus drivers and driver instructors



* Carry probationary licence at all times whilst driving

Same in the US! If you are driving without a license, you could get in trouble.

*Fully licenced dont have to have the licence on them they have two weeks to produce it probationers and learners must carry


* Can only drive automatic vehciles

In the US TECHNICALLY you aren't supposed to drive a manual unless you tested on it. In any event, a manual gives a person more room to make mistakes.

*designed for safety if you dont know how to drive manual then it makes it hard

I'm going for my green P's in June!!
Been on my reds since last june.

I dunno if this rule is present in other states, but in NSW P platers aren't allowed to have any more than one passenger under 21, after 11pm.
And I don't know if P platers are allowed to tow anything (like a trailer or caravan)

As for a special plate in the USA, I think it would cause more issues than it would solve. Our society here seems to think that the best way to get rich is to sue something and using something like a P plate would make the new driver a target of scams and general lowlives.

Many states now have laws where a new teen driver cannot have passengers outside their family in their car, nor drive at night unless you are participating in a school activity or driving to and from work.

As for high power vehicles, insurance companies can restrict that through their fees but if your parents are rich enough and willing to pay, yeah, you can drive them.

You can also drive a manual at any time. I have driven manuals many times without having to take a test. Not perfect on them but in an emergency, I have the basics figured out.

As to trailers, only if the weight is under 10,000 lbs. Other than that, you need a commercial drivers license which is not issued until you are 18 for intrastate driving and 21 for international driving. Most commercial drivers though cannot get a job until 21 anyways.

Most states also have a .00 law for those under 21 since those under 21 should not have access to alcohol anyways (except in certain states such as WI where a bar can serve you IF your parents are with you).

congrats to the new drivers here. it can lead to work and other opportunities.

in tasmania P platers cannot exceed 90kph speed limit, even on highways (100-110k speed range for 'black' licence drivers), so they use the 'slow lane' on the highways here.

my step dad is currently looking for a car for me it will be nice to own one much more convenient for sure. Up until now I have only been driving sporadically.