Information for Instructors and Examiners

Driving tests and licences

Government examiners will conduct practical driving tests for Class C (car) licences, instead of private operators. Licensed motor driving instructors will continue to deliver driver training.

Driving tests are used to get a provisional (P1) licence or to transfer an overseas licence. A single, new practical driving test will replace:

• the Competency Based Training and Assessment (commonly referred to as logbook)
• the Vehicle on Road Test.

New training material for class C (car) driver licence will be made available. These materials are for all learner drivers and motor driving instructors.

Industry standards and regulations

A new Code of Conduct will formalise the industry's standards of behaviour. This establishes higher standards of conduct and behaviour for:

• motor driving instructors
• government examiners.

To enter the industry and maintain accreditation, motor driving instructors must obtain:

• working with children checks
• medical fitness to drive certificates
• enhanced practical driving and theory tests.

The Registrar of Motor Vehicles will have greater sanctioning authority and options. This includes suspension, cancellation, imposition of conditions and expiable offences.

Technology requirements

A new digital environment will be introduced to reduce red tape. This includes digital scoring of practical driving tests and electronic certificate of competency.

All driver training and assessment vehicles must have cameras and GPS installed. The cameras and GPS must be operational while providing the service. This provides protection for instructors, examiners and students.

There will be prescribed car requirements, such as dual brakes and 5-star ANCAP rating.

Instructor transparency and consumer protection

We will publish a public, online register of:

• licensed motor driving instructors
• heavy vehicle authorised examiners.

This will help learner drivers and their parents make an informed decision about choosing an instructor.

Motor driving instructors must increase transparency to enter a contract for their service. They must disclose information about their fees, payments and services. This includes cancellation terms and refund rights.

The private sector will continue to provide driving training and examination for heavy vehicles, with the addition of:

• a digital scoring system
• cameras and GPS tracking
• introducing a mandatory Code of Conduct.

Once the Bill has passed through Parliament, we expect there to be a two-year transition period. During this time, we will engage with the industry.

Authorised examiners can continue assessing learner drivers during the transition period before the reforms commence.

Implementing the proposed reforms relies on the passage of a Bill through Parliament.

Subject to this, we expect there will be a two-year transition period. Once the legislation is passed, government examiners will conduct practical driving tests, instead of private authorised examiners.

Role of examiners and transparency

Authorised examiners who were appointed to assess class C before the reforms commence will no longer be able to assess. However, they will continue to:

• be licensed as a motor driving instructor
• be able to deliver driver training.

Authorised examiners who are also motor driving instructors can deliver driving lessons to learner drivers after the transition period.

We will publish an online register of:

• licensed motor driving instructors
• heavy vehicle authorised examiners.

This helps learners and their parents make informed decisions about choosing an instructor.

Industry standards and technology

Industry standards of behaviour will be formalised into a new Code of Conduct. This establishes higher standards for motor driving instructors.

Minimum standards for vehicles used for training and assessment will be introduced. This is to ensure a safe learning experience.

Motor driving instructors and government examiners must install cameras and GPS in all their driver training and assessment vehicles. These devices must be operational when providing the service. This provides protection for instructors, examiners and students.

Heavy vehicles

Driver training and assessment for heavy vehicles will remain with the private sector, with the addition of:

• a digital scoring system
• cameras and GPs tracking
• introduction of a mandatory Code of Conduct.

We expect there will be a two-year transition period to the new system once legislation has passed. Once the legislation is passed, government examiners will conduct practical driving tests, instead of private authorised examiners.

Authorised examiners who are also motor driving instructors can continue delivering driving lessons to learner drivers after the transition period.

The Government of South Australia will support current authorised examiners during the transition period. Authorised examiners are encouraged to apply for government examiner roles.

New learning resources will be made available. The aim is to help better inform and prepare motor driving instructors, learner drivers and parents. This includes training material for class C (car) driver’s licences.

Professional support

We have engaged Corporate Health Group (CHG) to provide professional counselling and support. This is free for existing motor driving instructors and authorised examiners. We want to support members in transitioning to the new and improved learner driver training policies and standards.

This service is confidential. For billing purposes, please let CHG know you’re a driver training industry member when you make an appointment.

To arrange a time to speak with a CHG counsellor:

• phone 8354 9800
• email bookings@chg.net.au.

There are many skilled, professional, and honest motor driving instructors and authorised examiners.

However, there are individuals in the industry who have engaged in concerning behaviours. This has made reform of the driver training and assessment industry necessary.

We are committed to protecting:

• the safety of learner drivers
• their right to receive the services they paid for
• the safety of members of the driver training industry.

We will continue:

• to engage with stakeholders to identify behaviours of concern and address them.
• with current auditing practices and ongoing investigations into poor behaviour.

You are encouraged to submit complaints with our online form.

The Code of Conduct will guide the standards of conduct and behaviour expected of driver training industry members by the Registrar for Motor Vehicles.

Consultation on the Code of Conduct will be undertaken with industry.

The proposed reforms will:

• strengthen the industry standards
• address issues raised by the Independent Commission Against Corruption to safeguard against inappropriate and criminal behaviour.

It is important that the Registrar for Motor Vehicles has the powers and mechanisms necessary to:

• identify corruption risks
• detect and deal with improper conduct when it occurs.

Sanctions could include:

• expiation notices
• fines for criminal offences
• suspension and/or cancellation of motor driving instructor licences
• imposition of conditions on a motor driving instructor licence.

To learn more, visit ICAC's website to read the Failing the Corruption Road Test: Corruption Risks in South Australia’s Driver Training Industry report.

Under the current arrangements, an applicant for a motor driving instructor licence must:

• have held an unconditional licence for a qualifying period
• be medically fit
• be of fit and proper character
• be proficient as a motor driving instructor.

These requirements will be captured in the new legislation. The Code of Conduct and policies will provide more information and guidance on meeting these requirements.

Applicants who have been convicted of certain offences will be automatically precluded from being licensed as a motor driving instructor. This is part of meeting the ‘fit and proper’ person requirements. These offences have not been determined yet.

All industry members will need to pass a Regulator Assessment to remain in the industry. This ensures all participants meet a minimum standard. The intention is to require all new and renewing applicants to show that they:

• have the required driving skills
• are able to safely operate the vehicle
• have the skills to teach others how to drive.

The proposed reforms will include the introduction of three technological improvements.

An online booking system will enable learner drivers to book a practical driving test with a government examiner.

A digital scoring system will be used to:

• score practical driving tests
• issue digital certificates of competency.

Cameras and GPS in vehicles:

• when training is being delivered by a motor driving instructor
• during practical driving tests.

This helps to:

• deter poor behaviour and criminal conduct
• monitor standards of training assessment.

Cameras and GPS must be installed in driver training and assessment vehicles.

Novice drivers are vulnerable members of the community. They are:

• unsupervised in an enclosed environment
• often children under 18 years
• often recent migrants with English as a second language

An in-vehicle camera and GPS will enable monitoring of the delivered training standard. This helps to:

• deter poor behaviour and criminal conduct
• provide reassurance and protection for motor driving instructors, government examiners and learner drivers.

Driving instruction vehicles will have vehicle safety standards.

Vehicle safety technologies help:

• drivers to avoid crashes
• reduce the severity of injuries of vehicle occupants and other road users during a crash.

The requirements likely to be included are:

• dual brakes
• 5-star ANCAP rating
• maximum vehicle age to provide a safe learning experience.

We will engage with the industry on the standards required.

A suite of training materials will be created for:

• motor driving instructors
• qualified supervising drivers.

These materials will used when training novice drivers who are pursuing a class C licence.

We will publish a public register of:

• licensed motor driving instructors
• heavy vehicle authorised examiners.

This online register will provide people with the ability to:

• verify the credentials of a person offering the services of a trainer or examiner
• make an informed choice.

The register will be available on SA.GOV.AU when the reforms are implemented.

We encourage industry members, learner drivers, parents and members of the public to raise any concerns with us.

You can submit complaints or concerns about poor performance with our online form. Please direct complaints about criminal behaviour to South Australia Police.

When making a complaint, it should include information on:

• where, when and how the incident happened
• who was involved
• any other supporting information, such as documents, photos, receipts and witnesses.

We will prioritise complaints based on the details you provide. Depending on the nature of the complaint, we may refer the matter to a relevant body for investigation. This can include internal investigators, South Australia Police and or other bodies.

Consultation with the driver training industry and the community was undertaken between 2017 and 2020. The process was done in three stages.