In South Africa, you must be 16 years old to pass the driving test. The test consists of a series of multiple-choice questions, and all the information you need can be found in the South Australian Driver`s Handbook. Once you have passed the knowledge test, you must complete at least 75 hours of supervised driving on your L license plates, including 15 hours of night driving. The landscape of P-plattlers has changed, with some states limiting cars that can be driven according to a power calculation. Although the aim is to combat the over-representation of young drivers in road accidents, the rules themselves are far from simple. For vehicles from 1 January 2010, South Australian P-plate drivers will be able to drive almost anything at less than 130kW per tonne of power. Here are the restrictions that apply to all P-plate drivers in South Australia. Exceptions that can be powered by a P-platler are: Suzuki Cappuccino 2D Cabriolet Turbo 3 657-698cc (1992-1997); Daihatsu Copen L880 2D Cabriolet Turbo 4,659cc (2003 or later); Smart Fortwo Coupe 2D Turbo 3,698cc (2000 or later); Smart Fortwo Cabriolet Turbo 3 2D 698cc (2000 or later); Smart Roadster Turbo 3 2D 698cc (2000 or higher); Toyota LandCruiser. In Victoria, the same rules apply, except that there is no blanket exemption for diesel vehicles and Victoria also lists certain naturally aspirated six-cylinder high-performance vehicles on the list of prohibited vehicles. Some supercharged or turbocharged vehicles can be powered by a P-board.
Here you can find the database for prohibited vehicles in Victoria and more general information about P licence plate vehicle restrictions can be found here. There are other P license plate laws in South Africa for P1 drivers. Here are the P1 licensing laws that apply to you in South Australia: Each Australian state has specific restrictions for inexperienced drivers, and South Australia is no exception. The P license plate laws that SA enforces mean that you have to remember the additional rules and restrictions in addition to the general traffic rules. Remember, while P-plate laws can be painful, they`re there to help you become a safe driver. “The vast majority of learners and P-signs aim to drive safely and responsibly, but the community is increasingly concerned that young, inexperienced drivers are getting behind the wheel of these very powerful vehicles.” Victorian P-platers may also operate vehicles under the club licence registration system (i.e. under the system for vehicles 25 years of age or older), unless the vehicle has different engine power changes than those made by the vehicle manufacturer. In South Australia, restrictions on heavy-duty vehicles are imposed on P-plattlers under the age of 25 who obtained their P1 driving licence on or after 4 September 2010 or who were disqualified on or after 4 September 2010 and who are driving with a P1 licence. NSW`s 130 kW per tonne rule applies to almost all vehicles and therefore opens up the possibility for P-plattlers to drive forced induction vehicles or vehicles with eight or more cylinders – provided they meet the power/weight limit. Prior to August 2014, almost all of these cars were banned from P license plates. To avoid trouble, we recommend that you review and comply with the P-plate restrictions of each state you plan to drive in, as well as all SA P-plate laws.
The main differences are the speed at which you are allowed to drive, passenger restrictions and the need for P2 licence holders to display green P signs. Restrictions on high-performance vehicles apply to Queenslander P1 and P2 licence holders under the age of 25 or over the age of 25 if returning from disqualification for a P1 or P2 test licence and who were under the age of 25 at the time of the offence. These restrictions apply for the remainder of the P-plate period, regardless of age. Recent changes to restrictions on P-licence plate vehicles in Queensland, New South Wales, Victoria and South Australia allow these drivers to drive a vehicle with a power-to-weight ratio of less than 130 kW per tonne. If you drive in another state while using your South Australian P licence plate, the police may enforce the P licence plate laws of your home state or the state in which you drive. There is some confusion about the rules that apply in this situation, and we have heard stories about it going both ways. P-plate drivers in South Australia will not be allowed to drive high-performance vehicles from September, with the state government today releasing a list of vehicles prohibited to drivers under 25. Restrictions on heavy-duty vehicles do not apply in South Australia to P badges who are 25 years of age or older or who have obtained their P1 or P2 licence before 4 September 2010. The above states also offer exemptions for P badges that drive prohibited vehicles according to work requirements or if they have no choice but to drive such a car. In most cases, an application must be made to the appropriate state road authority to apply for a permit in such circumstances.
The list is not exhaustive; For example, if you are a P-pllater or a relative or friend of a P-plater who owns a classic Holden, the 1978 VB Holden Commodore 4.2 V8 is approved for a P-plater. However, if you want to drive vehicles very similar from 1979 to the VH Commodore series, they are not on the list. In addition, Victoria allows P-platlers to drive certain Ford Ecoboost, Holden turbo and Nissan turbo vehicles (without exemption) provided they have a power-to-weight ratio identifier on the date of build plate (vehicles manufactured before January 1, 2010) indicating that they have less than 130 kW per tonne of power per weight. Queensland, New South Wales, Victoria and South Australia have restrictions on P-plate vehicles, while P-tacklers in the ACT, Northern Territory, Western Australia and Tasmania are not restricted by performance restrictions. P license plate license holders in these states and territories can drive anything an unrestricted driver can do in the classroom with less than 4.5 tons of GVM driver`s license. The list of registered vehicles can be found here and more details on vehicle restrictions for P-marking in Queensland can be found here. When driving with your P license plates, you must follow the P license plate laws enforced by SA, as well as normal traffic rules. If you don`t, you could face a license suspension or termination, which could extend the length of your stay on your P-plates. There are exceptions in South Australia, such as Victoria, where turbocharged or turbocharged vehicles that have low horsepower and were designed for efficiency rather than power are allowed to drive for P-platlers.
More information is available here. With that said, here`s everything you need to know about SA`s P-plate laws.