Learner and Provisional licences: What you need to know
Getting your P plates can be daunting enough, not to mention trying to remember all the specific rules that apply to Learner, P1 (red) and P2 (green) licences.
To help, we've cracked some common misconceptions to help make your road to becoming an open licence holder a little smoother.
When can you use your phone as an L and or P plater or supervisor?
- Under the current Queensland laws, drivers who are under 25 –years old who hold a red P licence or a learner licence are not allowed to use a phone while driving, including Bluetooth devices, wireless headsets and speaker phone functions.
- Passengers in the car with a learner licence or a red P licence holder can use a wireless headset or phone if it’s hands-free but they cannot have their phone on speaker.
- Drivers who have a green P licence or who are over 25 with a red P licence can use their phone if it is hands-free, on speaker phone or through a wireless headset.
Where should L and P plates be displayed on your car and can I alter them?
- All L and P plates must be displayed so you can clearly see the letter at the front and at the rear of the car from 20m away.
- L and P plates must be clearly visible and cannot be altered in any way. Sorry, no bling or bejewelling.
Can you get fined for incorrectly displayed L or P plates?
- Yes, you could be fined and get two demerit points if your L or P plates are not displayed on your car correctly.
- Someone else driving the car who is not on their learner or provisional licence and doesn’t remove the plates can also be fined.
When can you have passengers in the car as an L or P-plater?
- As a learner driver, you must be in the car with someone who holds a valid open licence for that class of vehicle, has held it for at least a year, and is seated in the front passenger seat.
- Learner drivers may carry passengers while driving with their supervisor.
- Driving with passengers can help learners gain experience in real-world conditions, however, consideration should be given to minimising distractions and supporting safe driving practices.
- Red P licence holders can take passengers without restrictions before 11pm and after 5am.
- Between the hours of 11pm and 5am, red P licence holders who are under 25 years old can only carry one passenger under 21 years old who isn’t an immediate family member.
What can you not do as a learner, green P or a red P driver?
- Drive under the influence of illegal or prescription drugs.
- Supervise a learner driver.
- Get four or more demerit points in a year.
- Have a blood alcohol reading higher than zero.
- Learners and P-platers under the age of 25 cannot drive a high-powered (performance) vehicle unless an exemption applies.
Following these rules when learning to drive will help keep yourself and others safe on our roads.
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