Vests for learner's in Vic

[Batfink]

a big PLUS 1 for real training.....
When in Norway seeing a woman, her son was of driving age and from memory this is what was needed.
150 hours of driving as learning including 40 hours by a professional instructor
the professional instructor was also the testing authority
lessons included (and required passing)
>>vehicle handling on ice, snow, mud and gravel
>>defensive driving on track/simulator
>>vehicle control in out of control condition (forced slides)
>>theory testing, including vehicle maintenance and regulations

there was a heap more and the youth was truly intimidated by what was needed to pass and I think there was an long extension (6 months??) if you failed..

I disagree with any concept that might make a learner complacent in defensive riding (eg.. hi-vis for being noticed) and will always support advanced riding courses as either a compulsion for licensing

[captainrob]

You're 'dead' right with the training. We are way behind a lot of countries. Lot of dirt roads where we live and we have a death a year of a newly licensed driver slamming into a tree, or arse up in a culvert. They have no idea how to actually 'drive' a car, when they get their license. My kids (girls) worked their way through a fleet of paddock bombs from when they were small, and I reckoned that helped a bit. The first day they got their license I took them to the local tow truck yard. "Look at that - you can see where his knees have dented the dash, and where his head smacked the windscreen - don't worry about the smell and the flies, sweetheart!" Now they are well into their twenties they tell me that it made a BIG impression on them at the time?

[Landmine]

You're 'dead' right with the training. We are way behind a lot of countries. Lot of dirt roads where we live and we have a death a year of a newly licensed driver slamming into a tree, or arse up in a culvert. They have no idea how to actually 'drive' a car, when they get their license. My kids (girls) worked their way through a fleet of paddock bombs from when they were small, and I reckoned that helped a bit. The first day they got their license I took them to the local tow truck yard. "Look at that - you can see where his knees have dented the dash, and where his head smacked the windscreen - don't worry about the smell and the flies, sweetheart!" Now they are well into their twenties they tell me that it made a BIG impression on them at the time?

Thats not training that is scare tactics. I can hear it now Ching Ching the cash registers working overtime and achieving no over all benefit. Everybody that thinks they know something wishes to stop the new generation doing anything.

[busarat]

I agree with captain rob on the use of paddock bashers as a form of training for car driving and learning control in some screwed up positions is a great thing, start them the younger the better and then add in some use of motorbikes as well and see how well it goes . It gets the dodgy out of there system in a controled way (under supervision)plus it can be cheap(if you have access to private land)

[Corpsedealer]

When it comes down to it It is the fault of the prior generation.
Our children, as we are, are products of our parents. If time is spent teaching the outcome will be productive, if its not you get what we have now.
I spent a few years on dairy farms in Tas as a child, firearms, dirt bikes, tractors dads cars/trucks (when he was up the back of the property). With His guidence my brothers and I learned to be safe in that enviroment. We moved to Launceston whole new enviroment, had to re-calculate for that area, Dad and Mum guided us.
Training is great it is whats needed but it still needs back up from Mums and Dads to ensure the trainee is learning.

As New drivers and riders we thought we new it all as they new guys/gals think now, We just didn't have the powerfull equipment back then.

Thats my two cents spent.

[Batfink]

When it comes down to it It is the fault of the prior generation.
Our children, as we are, are products of our parents. If time is spent teaching the outcome will be productive, if its not you get what we have now.
I spent a few years on dairy farms in Tas as a child, firearms, dirt bikes, tractors dads cars/trucks (when he was up the back of the property). With His guidence my brothers and I learned to be safe in that enviroment. We moved to Launceston whole new enviroment, had to re-calculate for that area, Dad and Mum guided us.
Training is great it is whats needed but it still needs back up from Mums and Dads to ensure the trainee is learning.

As New drivers and riders we thought we new it all as they new guys/gals think now, We just didn't have the powerfull equipment back then.

Thats my two cents spent.

It is the responsibility of the parents to ensure their own children are capable and not in danger but.......
not all parents have the skills to teach and the knowledge to impart plus some parents are so bad at driving they should be on the damn road anyway... do you want those types of parents being responsible for teaching road craft to the next generation??
yes, mum and dad should be guiding their child through the skills of driving but the child NEEDS to learn basic and advanced skill from a professional not amateur driver.
Also throw into the equation that the current generation is growing up more and more with both parents needing to work full-time, often doing crazy 7day shifts, with their own selfish wants superseding quality parenting time..