Log book hours and supervised practice in Western Australia

By the end of this topic you can

• You can state the minimum supervised and night hours you need.
• You can check whether a person is allowed to supervise you.
• You can record each session correctly in the paper log book or Learn&Log.
• You can plan practice across a range of roads, speeds and conditions.
• You can explain why the minimum hours are only a starting point.

What you need to know and understand

• Learners under 25 must record at least 50 supervised hours, including at least 5 hours at night (between sunset and sunrise).
• Learners aged 25 and over do not have to complete a log book, though practice is still strongly recommended.
• You can use the printed DTMI Learner Log Book, the free Learn&Log digital log book in the ServiceWA app, or a combination of both.
• A car supervisor must have held a driver's licence for the kind of driving being taught for at least 4 years (in total). A licensed driving instructor can also supervise.
• A supervisor with an automatic-only licence can only supervise you in an automatic car.
• Supervisors must follow the same alcohol and drug limits that would apply if they were driving.
• The log book is a legal document. False or misleading entries can lead to prosecution of those who signed.

Recording a session the right way

If you lose a printed log book and do not use Learn&Log, you must buy a new one and earlier hours in the lost book will not be credited. Learn&Log avoids that risk.

1. Before driving, check the car is licensed and roadworthy and the L plates are on the front and back.
2. Drive with your supervisor beside you, following all learner conditions, including the 100 km/h maximum.
3. After the session, record the date, times and conditions in your log book or Learn&Log.
4. Have your supervising driver sign off the session.
5. Keep a running total so you know when you have reached 50 hours, including 5 at night.

Getting more from every hour

The handbook points out that young drivers who complete 100 to 120 supervised hours are better prepared and less likely to be in serious crashes. Fifty hours is the floor, not the goal.

Aim to practise on freeways and major roads, at night, in rain, and at speeds between 80 and 100 km/h on roads where that is permitted. The Driving Techniques for Safer Drivers book from DTMI has practice exercises that match what the PDA assessor looks for. The official pages we checked describe no bonus-hour credit scheme in WA, so every hour you count must be real supervised driving.

For supervisors

Supervisors should talk through the plan before each drive and review progress afterwards. Our guide to supervising a learner driver in WA covers the 4 year rule and Learn&Log in more depth.

Common mistakes

• Logging hours with a supervisor who has held a licence for less than 4 years. Those hours do not count.
• Practising a manual car with a supervisor who holds an automatic-only licence. That is not allowed.
• Doing all your hours on the same quiet route. Mix in busy traffic, night driving and higher speeds.
• Forgetting to get each session signed off. Unsigned entries can stop you being assessed.
• Leaving night hours until the end. Spread them out so you build confidence in the dark.

Test yourself: Log book hours and supervised practice in Western Australia

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

Go deeper

• Learning to Drive in WA
• Moving to WA
• Supervising a Learner Driver in WA