Qualified supervising drivers

By the end of this topic you can

• You can check whether a person is allowed to supervise you in your state.
• You can explain the supervising driver's legal duties.
• You can describe how logbook entries are signed off.
• You can plan practice sessions with your supervisor.

What you need to know and understand

• A supervising driver must hold a full (unrestricted) licence for the type of car, not a learner or provisional licence.
• They must sit in the front passenger seat, right next to you.
• Some states set a minimum time on a full licence: SA requires the previous two years, WA requires at least 4 years, and Queensland requires at least 1 year on an open licence.
• Supervisors must be under the 0.05 BAC limit in states such as SA and the NT, and police can breath test them. In the NT, professional instructors must have zero BAC.
• In WA, someone whose licence has an automatic-only condition cannot supervise you in a manual car.
• NSW does not allow an overseas licence holder to supervise, while SA accepts some recognised overseas licences. This is a clear example of rules that vary by state.

What the law expects from your supervisor

The supervising driver must actually supervise. That means watching the road, guiding you and being ready to help, not sleeping or using a phone. In the NT handbook, the supervisor is treated as the driver for most legal purposes. In SA, the supervisor must also not have been disqualified in the previous two years.

• Hold the right full licence and meet any minimum years for your state.
• Sit next to you for every drive, including car park practice.
• Stay under the alcohol limit that applies to supervisors.
• Record and sign logbook entries honestly. Logbooks are legal documents, and false entries can lead to prosecution.

Making each session count

1. Agree on the goal before you start, for example smooth stops or right turns.
2. Pick a route that suits that goal and your skill level.
3. Let your supervisor give calm, early instructions such as 'at the next intersection, turn left'.
4. Pull over somewhere safe to talk through mistakes rather than arguing while moving.
5. Fill in the logbook together straight after the drive.

Using more than one supervisor

You can usually practise with several eligible supervisors, such as parents, relatives and a professional instructor. Different people notice different habits. Each one must meet the rules and sign their own entries.

Common mistakes

• Practising with a friend on P plates. Provisional drivers cannot supervise.
• Letting the supervisor sit in the back seat. They must be beside you.
• Forgetting that the supervisor's alcohol limit still applies after a social event.
• Writing up several weeks of logbook entries at once from memory.

Test yourself: Qualified supervising drivers

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