Log book hours and supervised practice in Australian Capital Territory

By the end of this topic you can

• You can state the required hours for learners under 25 and for those 25 or older.
• You can work out how instructor lessons and approved courses add credit.
• You can record a drive correctly in your logbook.
• You can list the rules your supervisor must follow.

What you need to know and understand

• If you were under 25 when your Ls were issued: at least 100 supervised hours, including 10 at night.
• If you were 25 or older when your Ls were issued: at least 50 supervised hours, including 5 at night.
• Each hour with an ACT accredited driving instructor counts as 3 hours, for up to 10 instructor hours (a maximum of 30 credited hours). After that, instructor hours count one for one.
• The Safer Driver Course is worth 20 hours and is open to learners who were under 25 when their Ls were issued.
• The Vulnerable Road User Program is worth 10 hours and is open to all learners.
• An approved Learner Driver First Aid course is worth 5 hours, if done after at least 3 months on your Ls.
• Learners transferring from another state can have previous driving hours recognised by bringing their logbook.

How the credits add up

Here is one way an under-25 learner could reach 100 hours: 10 hours with an accredited instructor (credited as 30), the Safer Driver Course (20), the Vulnerable Road User Program (10) and the first aid course (5) give 65 credited hours. The remaining 35 hours would be logged with a supervisor, including the 10 night hours if they have not already been covered.

Credits are a help, not a shortcut to skill. Many learners drive far more than the minimum before they feel ready.

Rules for supervisors

• Must hold a valid full Australian driver licence.
• Must sit in the front passenger seat.
• Must have zero alcohol and no drugs in their system while supervising.
• Should sign the logbook entries they supervised and check that times and details are accurate.

Getting the most from each drive

1. Agree on a goal before you start, for example lane changes or roundabouts.
2. Begin in quiet streets, then build up to busy roads, parkways and night driving.
3. Practise in rain, at dusk and in winter conditions when it is safe to do so.
4. Record the date, start and finish times, and whether it was day or night, straight after the drive.
5. Talk through one thing that went well and one thing to improve.

Common mistakes

• Filling in the logbook days later from memory. Record each drive straight away.
• Leaving all the night hours until the last few weeks.
• Counting instructor time at triple value beyond the first 10 hours. Only the first 10 hours earn the bonus.
• Doing only the same short trip. Mix road types, speeds and conditions.

Test yourself: Log book hours and supervised practice in Australian Capital Territory

Answer each question, then read the explanation. Questions come in a random order each time.

Go deeper

• ACT Logbook Hours