Aussie driver licensing framework overhauled

Mandated minimum training and assessment times and experience-based progression options – plus enhanced governance standards for training providers – will be rolled out over the next two years in Australia under a new National Heavy Vehicle Driver Competency Framework agreed to by the country’s transport ministers.

In a recent presentation, Austroads general manager programs, Paul Davies, said the Decision Regulatory Impact Statement (D-RIS) presented to – and agreed to – by ministers includes a new requirement to have a heavy-combination (HC) licence before gaining a multicombination (MC) licence.

Davies also revealed the new framework features strengthened training and assessment standards for all licence classes, including mandated minimum training programme length and comprehensive competencies and assessment.

The mandated minimum training and assessment times will be 16-24 hours for rigids and 20-28 hours for combinations, including minimum ‘behind the wheel’ time of six to eight hours for rigids and eight to 10 hours for combinations.

There will also be a requirement for four to eight hours of post-licence supervised driving within three months of obtaining a new or upgraded licence, dependent on class.

Additionally, Davies said ministers had agreed to strengthened training and assessment standards for all licence classes comprising more than 180 identified competency elements to be delivered via a mix of online, driving/yard, and classroom. These included modules on hazard perception testing and attitude and approach to the driving task.

The new framework introduces experience-based progression pathways for driver licensing. The progression from MR/HR to HC will be cut in half under the experiencedbased pathway (from 12 to six months), as will the progression from MR to MC (from two years to one year). The progression from HR to MC will remain at 12 months due to the new requirement to first obtain an HC licence.

Regulators suggest for most drivers there will be pathways to progress more quickly than currently.

The new framework also includes new governance and other nationally developed standards for training providers.