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NSW Department of Education and Training

Curriculum support for NSW Public Schools

Driver training implementation guidelines

For the purpose of these guidelines, driver training refers to those programs that provide practical (behind-the-wheel) instruction with a focus on the development of competencies associated with the operation and control of a motor vehicle. These programs should be consistent with the principles of the NSW Graduated Licensing Scheme (GLS).

In Departmental schools, driver training is not required as a standard component of driver education programs and it is not a mandatory component of the PDHPE 7–10 syllabus or Crossroads, a personal development and health education course for Stage 6.

If schools choose to offer driver training it must be delivered:

  • within the context of the school’s driver education program
  • to support learner licensed drivers to obtain their 120 hours (after July 1, 2007) of on-road driving
  • to comply with a number of other conditions outlined below.

Programs for provisional licensed drivers and advanced driving courses are not recommended.

The principles outlined in the following sections serve to assist schools planning to deliver driver training.

Compliance with the NSW Driving Instructors Act, 1992 and Driving Instructors Regulation, 2003
The Driving Instructors Act, 1992 and Driving Instructors Regulation, 2003 were introduced to ensure quality professional driver training is provided to all learner drivers throughout New South Wales.

The Act states that any person who instructs another person for the purpose of teaching that person to drive a motor vehicle and who receives a monetary or other reward for so instructing must hold a valid NSW Driving Instructor Licence.

The Act also requires that commercial driver instructors be qualified and hold a current NSW Driving Instructors Licence from the NSW Roads and Traffic Authority. More information about these requirements can be found on the licensing pages of the RTA website.

Government high schools must comply with the Act by conducting school-based driver training:

  • outside regular school hours (regular school hours as documented by the school timetable)
  • at no cost to the students
  • in a duplicate-controlled motor vehicle.

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Quality driver training instructors
Government teachers who act as driver instructors are required to qualify as driving instructors under the NSW  Driving Instructors Act, 1992 andDriving Instructors Regulation, 2003.

A teacher who is not a licensed driving instructor, but who undertakes to provide driver training to students, will be in breach of the Act because they are being paid via their salary. Similarly, if a member of the school community who is not a licensed driving instructor provides the same service voluntarily and receives some form of reward such as a meal or money for petrol, they too will be in breach of the Act.

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Cooperation with outside agencies
Schools may seek the cooperation and support of outside agencies in the sponsorship or delivery of driver training.

In these circumstances student welfare, risk management, observance of legal requirements and the provision of quality training are matters of primary consideration. The target group should be learner licensed drivers and not provisional licensed drivers. Advanced driver training courses are not recommended.

Risk management, for the purpose of this policy, is defined as the identification of risks associated with motoring, the measurement of those risks and the development and implementation of controls.

The provision of duplicate-controlled and well-maintained vehicles for driver training in schools will require sponsorship or support. Sponsorship agreements must meet the conditions outlined in the Department’s Sponsorship of School and Departmental Activities, Policy Statement and Guidelines for Implementation.  PD/2005/0295/V01 (DET intranet only)

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Teacher and student welfare
If schools choose to deliver driver training programs, they are required to provide individualised training for students who are learner licensed drivers.

Principals will need to ensure that staff and students involved in such programs are fully aware of their personal rights and responsibilities. Schools should be aware that this may increase the incidence of allegations of improper conduct of instructors or students.

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Guidelines for driver training (behind-the-wheel) in schools

1. Planning school-based driver training (behind-the-wheel)
Schools should plan, design and schedule school-based driving training in accordance with the following requirements:

  • Driver training will be scheduled outside regular school hours.
  • Driver training must be linked to the driver education program within the particular school.
  • Staff and students need to be aware of the Graduated Licensing Scheme (GLS) outlined in the RTA brochure Getting your driver's licence which is available on the RTA website.
  • Driver training will be designed to develop practical driving tasks as defined in the  Learner Driver Log book and the Driving test for a class C driver licence, available from the RTA.
  • Driving Training should support Learner Licence holders to undertake the required 120 hours (after July 1, 2007) of on-road driving and to meet the level required to pass a New South Wales Driving Ability Road Test (DART).
  • Driver training will emphasise the importance of safe driving.
  • Driver training will not aim to develop advanced driving skills.

More information about what does and doesn’t work can be found in the RTA’s publication Principles of effective community-based safe driving programs for novice drivers and passengers on the RTA’s website.

2. Community acceptance and support for driver training programs
School communities need to be supportive of driver training, if they are to be implemented successfully.

In order to inform the school community and enlist its support, the principal will need to ensure that the following conditions are met:

  • The principal will need to appraise the educational quality of any proposed driver training, as well as the procedures to be followed, to ensure sound risk management.
  • The documentation for the proposed driver training must specify the teaching and learning activities and outcomes.
  • Documentation must stipulate that students will observe adequate safety.
  • Procedures in the use of public roads, school premises and other specified areas, are understood.
  • Documentation must also specify the evaluation process and the criteria to be used in assessing the achievement of student outcomes.

If the school community is interested in further support for driver training, the RTA can be contacted by phone on 132213 for the Helping Learner Drivers Become Safer Drivers two hour workshop, where they can register for a workshop planned for their local area.

3. Student participation in school-based driver training (behind-the-wheel)
Students can participate in driver training under the following conditions:

  • All school managed driver training will be free of any charge to participating students.
  • Student participation in driver training programs is to be voluntary.
  • Student participation must be supported by written parental consent which is specific to the particular activities and the arrangements for driving practice.
  • Each participating student must hold a current NSW learner driver licence.
  • Each student is encouraged to wear flat closed shoes and comfortable clothing for practical driving lessons.
  • Each student will observe the rules applying to driving with a learner’s licence, as well as the NSW road rules.
  • The training vehicle will carry only the driving instructor and the learner driver when the training is in progress.

4. Teacher participation in driver training programs
Teachers may act as driving instructors in school-based driver training under the following conditions:

  • Teachers who act as instructors in driver training are required to be qualified as instructors and are to obtain a current NSW Driving Instructors’ Licence from the RTA.
  • The teacher's involvement has the approval of the school principal.
  • Teachers' who act as instructors must be experienced drivers over 21 years of age who have held an unrestricted (not learner, provisional or probationary) NSW drivers’ licence for three out of the previous four years.
  • Their participation is on a voluntary basis and attracts no payment.
  • The training is on a one-to-one basis during driving training sessions.
  • Teachers who qualify as instructors should not directly market their services to students of government schools.
  • Teachers who act as qualified driving instructors in school-based driver training outside of school hours will be covered by the Workers Compensation Act.

5. Ownership, maintenance and operation of vehicles
Schools which obtain motor vehicles for driver training must do so under the following conditions:

  • Ownership for each vehicle must comply with the conditions outlined in the Acquisition of motor vehicles by schools (1983).
  • Each vehicle to be used must be equipped with duplicate driving controls of a type approved by the RTA.
  • Each vehicle to be used must be registered and have comprehensive motor vehicle insurance.
  • Each vehicle to be used must be serviced and maintained to ensure safe and efficient operation at all times.
  • All costs relating to any vehicle used will be met by the agent or agencies sponsoring the project.
  • Arrangements will be made for the garaging of each vehicle away from Departmental premises.

6. Student participation in commercial driving school training

  • Driver training should be offered for learner licensed drivers only, as advanced driver training is not recommended.
  • School principals should ensure that liability is not incurred, through the participation and interaction of their students in driver training, with commercial driving instructors or commercial driving schools.
  • Any contract entered into between a school and a commercial driving school or driving instructor should be referred to the Legal Services for advice prior to an agreement being reached.
  • The emphasis, direction and level of driving training provided by the commercial driving instructor or commercial driving school should be in accordance with the guidelines for driver training (behind-the-wheel) programs in schools. (Refer to sections 1, 2, 3 and 5).
  • The conduct of the commercial driving instructor or commercial driving school should comply with the requirements of the NSW Driving Instructors Act, 1992 and Driving Instructors Regulation, 2003. The driver training must be conducted with a NSW qualified instructor in a duplicate-controlled vehicle.
  • Schools should seek written confirmation from the provider that all instructors are NSW licensed driving instructors.
  • The collection of any fees or charges should be carried out by the commercial driving school and should not involve the high school as an agent.

7. Conditions for sponsorship and support of school-based driver training (behind-the-wheel) programs
Schools may cooperate with outside agencies which:

The principal is responsible for the introduction and operation of driver training at the school level.

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Principles of effective community-based safe driving programs for novice drivers and passengers
Teachers and principals who work with the community in delivering road safety education to students as part of the curriculum need to plan and assess safe driving programs that include a variety of driving experiences that exist within any group of young people.

To provide an effective community-based safe driving program for novice drivers and passengers four main principles need to be addressed. These are:

1.  Identifying the major issues for young people
This includes:

  • identifying the needs of the community systematically
  • planning with other agencies together, not in isolation
  • addressing key risk factors and risky behaviours.

2.  Identifying what is already in place
This includes:

  • taking steps to understand what is already being done
  • considering existing resources and programs before developing new ones.

3.  Know what works and what doesn’t work
This includes:

  • using evidence of what works to guide what is included in the program
  • following good learning principles to formulate a sound educational program.

4.  Putting it together
This includes:

  • setting realistic objectives and clearly identifying the intended outcomes
  • involving students actively
  • evaluating and documenting what has been learnt from the program
  • conducting a thorough risk assessment.

Comprehensive information on these four principles may be found in Principles of effective community-based safe driving programs for novice drivers and passengers on the RTA website.

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