Part of Victorian licence testing goes online
There’s still a driving component! But hazard perception test can now be done online from homeThe Victorian vehicle registration and licencing authority, VicRoads, has announced that a key component of licence testing in the state, the hazard perception test, can now be taken online.
Restrictions surrounding the COVID-19 pandemic have meant learner drivers in Victoria have not been able to sit the hazard perception test, which has only been possible at VicRoads offices.
Now, however, learners are offered the alternative of taking the test from home or wherever there’s a handy internet connection, saving themselves the inconvenience of waiting for lockdown restrictions to ease.
As a bonus, the online hazard perception test doesn’t require a booking. Learners can sit the test any time, provided they have a suitable internet-ready device and an appropriate connection (we’re guessing dial-up won’t suffice).
They will also need to set up a VicRoads account first, and pay a fee of $19.10 for the test.
Some learners have been advised in recent months that their hazard perception test had been cancelled, and VicRoads has now moved to contact those drivers via email to let them know of the new online test.
Like its office-bound counterpart, the online hazard perception test requires the learner to assess the hazards in front and around them.
It checks whether the driver is maintaining a safe braking distance to the vehicle in front and travelling at a safe speed in the driving environment – allowing enough time (the three-second rule) to slow down and avoid a rear-end crash.
Additionally, the test looks at whether the driver is sharing the road safely with other road users and monitoring the environment for changing conditions, such as road works.
Finally, drivers are expected to minimise distractions such as conversation and loud music.
According to VicRoads, hazard perception is a skill that takes time to develop, and newly-licenced drivers are most at risk from failing to recognise a hazard during the first 12 months of their driving history.
VicRoads provides more information at a web page for the new online hazard perception test, including an FAQ section and tips for preparing for the test.
Related: L and P plate guide – Victoria
Related: L and P plate National Guide
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