Vicroads Licence 120 Hours Exemption

[jeanweasley]

Hi everyone,

So I just realised that the resources forum is non-existent, and this thread may not be in the correct sub-forum so I apologise for that.

Anyway, long story short, I'm at uni and I still don't have my Ps and I'm looking into getting an exemption for not doing the 120 hours because of a few factors. First, I do not have the resources or the parents to actually drive me around. Since I got my Ls when why was 17 (I took it at the same time with my sister who was 16 at the time), my parents have not had time to practise with me so I pretty much only had a bit of last year and really, this year to get my hours. And in saying that, it really is only my dad who drives me around but even then, he's really picky at when he wants to drive me. To add to that, he also works double shifts so he's pretty much not around to drive with me.

My mum also has undiagnosed anxiety and cannot drive with me because she gets stressed and she defecates herself.

I also don't have aunties or uncles because they live away and we are not really close with them.

I've also used all my savings to pay for an instructor and have spent to date more than $500 in driving with said instructor. She is really good and has helped me but the thing is I currently don't have a job (quit Jan although had I foreseen these events, I wouldn't have) and have used all my savings in a) helping my mum pay rent and other bills eg. tuition for my other siblings b) the youth allowance I received, I have used for my driving lessons and uni expenses (travel) and that has also been cut to just $11 a fortnight so I can really do anything with that c) the savings that I did have since I started working is nonexistent mainly because I been owed to and have contributed to the family by paying bills and lending some money for us to buy another car for me to apparently practise on.

Question is, do you think this is a good enough case? I really can't afford any lessons and I don't have any one that can actually help me with driving. I have also signed up to a government volunteer driving program but that's full and apparently I have done too many hours for them to really help me (well, only 49 but still I don't think that's sufficient enough).

I am looking for a job and have just applied to one today but I am still concentrating for my transfer to law so that's why I've put off work. But that's another story.

Anywho, any advice? Do you think I should go for the exemption or wait til my fortnightly youth allowance accumulates and spend that money? I don't really know what to do. Granted, I'll probably receive the 250 from the ancora but still, I want to be able to drive to work and be able to contribute to uni events without being concerned about the next bus and whether it'll be too dark for me to go outside...

[brenden]

Well, without knowing anything objective about the process, I'd say that's at least grounds for consideration. I'm unsure how strict they'd be - whether they'd want certificates re: your mum and things of that nature.

Look, I'm an advocate for doing the 120 hours (den crash graphs on the Ls test scared the shit out of me)... but you've got 50, you've been well trained and done a tonne more hours with an instructor than most people do so you surely have the capacity to drive around without crashing. I'd just forge them if I were you tbh :/

[jeanweasley]

Well, without knowing anything objective about the process, I'd say that's at least grounds for consideration. I'm unsure how strict they'd be - whether they'd want certificates re: your mum and things of that nature.

Look, I'm an advocate for doing the 120 hours (den crash graphs on the Ls test scared the shit out of me)... but you've got 50, you've been well trained and done a tonne more hours with an instructor than most people do so you surely have the capacity to drive around without crashing. I'd just forge them if I were you tbh :/

Thanks for the input Brenden! Yeah, I have considered that. Okay, I guess maybe I could "do" up to 60 hours and then submit the form? Ah, screw it, I'll just do that.

[brenden]

Yeah I definitely think if your current 49 is insufficient for you then you should keep driving, but drive with the goal to be ready for the test/roads soon. Like you're on 110 hours. I think most peopl grab a friend's book and just copy the kilometres down so it looks legit - probably the most solid way to do it (impossible to tell they're forged with that method). Anyway - good luck with everything, hope exams and your job hunt goes well! 

[alondouek]

I think the system is that once you turn 21 you don't need to complete 120 hours to sit the Ps test, and you go straight onto green Ps. If you can't get up to 120 hours, waiting until then is always an option. I don't think forging hours is a good idea - you almost certainly wouldn't get caught but I reckon that eschewing the practice is a poor idea (and the VicRoads statistics back this up to an extent).

My Dad's a driving instructor (link is in my sig), and while I can't speak on his behalf and offer anything it might be helpful to contact him (or any private instructor, really) and explain your situation. Hopefully someone out there can offer you reduced rates or some other deal!

[ninwa]

IMO the 120 hours requirement is bloody ridiculous. I got my Ps at 21 which meant I was automatically exempted from the requirement. Pretty I hadn't even done 50 hours but I aced my test (partially thanks to my amazing instructor who knew all the tricks of the route I was tested on) and have never had an accident in the 4 years I've been driving.

Try to make sure you've driven in all sorts of conditions (heavy rain, bright sunlight, night time etc.) and get your 3-point-turns and reverse parallel parks down pat, and you'll be fine.

[jeanweasley]

Alright, thanks for the contribution everyone. I guess I will just try to do as much of real hours as I can and "do" the rest (don't want to say forge haha). I guess I'll try to get it before my birthday next year. Hopefully that is enough. I'll let know how it goes (if I remember) or you can PM me.

My teacher is great and I think I'll probably get a few more hours with her because she teaches me tips and tricks. I really can't wait til 21 because I want/have to help my family, especially my mum because she pretty much pays for everything. I also have family overseas who are in poverty so maybe giving at least $100 that I might have saved up in a month can probably give them extra to eat.

Anyway, sorry for the negative/mushy topic. I don't want people to feel sorry for me but I really needed to get your advice.

Thanks heaps  everyone!