South Australia pushes better driver training standards after corruption findings
09/07/2024 05:00 PM
The state's government has put forward a bill for improved driver training to deliver better drivers while addressing corruption, sexism, and reducing costs.
The South Australian State Government has introduced a bill to the State Parliament pushing for major reforms to driver training laws after an industry review revealed corruption, sexism, and abuse.
The proposed suite of reforms wants driver trainers for a regular 'Class C' car licence in South Australia (SA) – around 50,000 a year – to follow a higher set of standards through a new industry Code of Practice.
It comes only days after the amount of training required to gain a motorcycle licence was doubled in the state as part of a wide range of changes for riders.
In a media release, the SA Government said the reforms are a response to a Department for Infrastructure and Transport review into the driver licensing industry having uncovered "the need to strengthen industry standards and address issues of inappropriate and criminal behaviour".
It also mentioned a 2022 ICAC (Internal Commission Against Corruption) report describing the state's controls to prevent corruption in the industry were "less than adequate".
Key among the proposed changes is the mandated use of government examiners for the Provisional licence practical test instead of the currently permitted use of private operators.
Around 40 new government examiners would be needed, with 266 of the current 609 motor driving instructors in South Australia also authorised examiners.
The price of the test would be standardised state-wide to $240 – down from as much as $400 being charged by some private operators – leaving the Northern Territory as the only place in Australia to outsource both driver training and testing.
Private operators would still be permitted to offer driver training, but to new higher standards.
These include driving instructors able to demonstrate good character while meeting medical fitness criteria and be transparent by providing written fees and available services.
There's also a new format for Learner Driver log books, while the proposal also calls for cameras and GPS (Global Positioning System) tracking to be fitted to all driver training vehicles to improve safety.
Breaches of the proposed Code of Practice would be met with sanctions on the offending individual.
The new code could be in place within two years of the Bill being accepted, with industry consultation the next step after it's tabled in the SA parliament.
South Australia has already announced it will introduce an on-line test for drivers of ultra-high powered vehicles from 1 December 2024.
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