Graduated licensing scheme on the Victorian radar

Car drivers in Victoria already have it, and now motorcyclists could be the next to be administered under a so-called graduated licensing system (GLS).

The Bikesales Network understands a large chunk of the October meeting of the Victorian Motorcycle Advisory Council was devoted to the tabling of a preliminary research paper presented by the Monash University Accident Research Centre (MUARC) into the issue.

The MUARC paper made recommendations, including a move towards a training and testing system that progresses a rider's competency within the context of road-based skills - replacing the current system which concentrates on basic skills only.

Under varied conditions through the testing MUARC-supported testing phase, a rider will implement skills acquired in night-time, freeway and peak-hour riding.

Some critical areas of vulnerability for novice riders have been identified, and the need to develop a licensing pathway that manages riders from pre to full license has been proposed by VicRoads. A graduated licensing system is one such method of achieving that.

The potential implementation of a new GLS as a staged process is currently under review by
VicRoads, and is expected to require legislative change. A draft timeframe for consultation on potential elements of a new GLS is expected to see the light of day early next year.

A GLS for car drivers was first introduced in 2007, intruding a number of new rules including a learner log book, which requires a minimum of 120 hours of supervised driving they can apply for a probationary licence.