Supervised practice and driver education in Newfoundland and Labrador

By the end of this topic you can

• You can check whether someone qualifies as your accompanying driver.
• You can explain the rules that apply to both of you during practice.
• You can describe what approved driver education gives you.
• You can plan practice that covers the skills the road test checks.

What you need to know and understand

• The accompanying driver must have at least four years' experience as a full Class 5 driver.
• They must sit in the front seat beside you.
• You and the accompanying driver must both have zero blood alcohol.
• Learners cannot drive between midnight and 5 a.m. and cannot carry other passengers.
• A parent or guardian may also ride along when the learner is in driver education with a licensed instructor.
• Approved driver education cuts the Level I wait from 12 months to 8.
• Approved driving schools are listed by Motor Registration, and their instructors are authorized by the Registrar.

Who can sit beside you

Your accompanying driver needs four years as a full Class 5 driver, not just four years of holding any licence. Time spent as a learner or novice does not count as full experience. They must be in the front passenger seat and have a blood alcohol level of zero, the same as you.

During practice you also display the NOVICE DRIVER sign: black letters at least 5 centimetres high on a white background. It can go in the lower left corner of the rear window behind the driver, on the trunk or on the rear bumper. Take it down when an experienced driver is using the car.

What approved driver education involves

Motor Registration approves driving schools to deliver the Graduated Driver Licensing course, which combines classroom and in-car instruction. Completing it lets you book your road test after 8 months at Level I instead of 12. Bring proof of completion to your road test. The handbook notes that some graduates may also qualify for an insurance discount, so ask your insurer.

Course length, content and price vary by school, so contact the school directly. Our guide to the road test and the driver education credit explains the timing in more detail.

Building a practice plan

• Start in quiet places: an empty lot for steering, braking and moving off.
• Move to quiet streets, then busier roads, four-way stops and traffic lights.
• Practise parallel parking and backing into a 90-degree space from both sides, as the road test includes parking.
• Drive on highways with passing lanes, in rain and fog, and at dusk when moose are active.
• Get winter experience: snow, slush and icy corners, with your supervisor talking you through skid control.

Common mistakes

• Practising with a supervisor who has under four years as a full Class 5 driver.
• Bringing friends along. Learners may carry no passengers other than the accompanying driver.
• Forgetting the NOVICE DRIVER sign.
• Practising only in good weather and daylight.

Test yourself: Supervised practice and driver education in Newfoundland and Labrador

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

Go deeper

• Newfoundland Road Test and the Driver Education Credit
• How to Get a Driver’s Licence in Newfoundland and Labrador
• Newfoundland Demerit Points for Novice Drivers