DRIVING CHANGE

TEST CRACKDOWN

WITH THE CURRENT TEST, THERE’S THIS PERCEPTION THAT YOU CAN JUST GO IN AND WING IT INSTRUCTOR HENRY GREENHILL

AN upcoming overhaul to the Queensland driving licence test could see young drivers forced to take more comprehensive studies.

The traditional 30-question multiple choice exam is expected to be replaced with a thorough online assessment program, called PrepL, involving up to 400 questions.

Ace Driver Training instructor Henry Greenhill hopes it could lead to a better start for drivers in the long run.

“With the current test, there’s this perception that you can just go in and wing it,” he said. “As an instructor, I see there are so many different learning styles you have to appreciate on the road. An online test is so much more suited to younger drivers because of the way they process information.”

Mr Greenhill said Cairns was a good place to learn to drive due to the ease of navigating the CBD.

“It’s similar to driving in places like Brisbane or Sydney, but with more space and less traffic,” he said.

“One thing that’s really essential to learn here is hazard perception; recognising when there’s a sign pointing to a road closure or a detour, driving in wet weather, things like that.”

PrepL is expected to take four-to-six hours to complete, and will involve about 400 questions.

Concerns have been raised about its open-ended nature.

Cairns learner driver Kristian Schuh, who passed the existing test on his first go, said he would find PrepL too easy.

“If we can do it anywhere online, what’s to stop us from looking up the answers or getting someone to do it for us?” he said. “I feel like the learner driver test did a good job helping learn the rules of the road for driving in Cairns.”

Kristian’s instructor Terry Berrett of 2Pass Driving School said he would want the test to be supervised.

“The people running the test should be able to see the student taking it,” he said.

A Department of Transport and Main Roads spokeswoman said PrepL would be rolled out in stages. “A second round of testing with students is currently under way and we aim to have PrepL available to all Queenslanders later this year.”