How do the driving tests function over in Aussie? Supposedly, we have one of the strictest driving curricula in the world:
> Once you turn sixteen, if you wish to drive, you have to take sixteen three-hour classes on driving safety and methods, and then you go to take a theory exam afterward which requires an 85% to pass. If you fail, you can take it again the next day, but it costs extra. The test is pretty difficult, and most people fail it multiple times.
> If you pass, you're given a red magnetic 'L' to stick on the back of your car which will allow you to drive, but you need to have a supervisor of 25 years or older (who has also had their full licence for at least five years) along with you, you cannot drive between the hours of 23:00 and 5:00, and you cannot go on the highway unless in a lesson with your instructor. You keep this for a year, and during that year you need to accumulate at least 86 hours of driving experience, in addition to taking sixteen two-hour in-car lessons from a certified instructor. After the year's up, you take an in-car exam, which lasts for about forty-five minutes. If you make three errors (ranging from forgetting to check a blind spot to not observing a crosswalk to going over a speed bump too fast), then you fail; you can also instantly fail by doing things like not coming to a complete stop at a stop sign, or forgetting to put your turning signals on. Like before, if you fail, you can take it again for extra cost, but you have to wait two months before taking it again.
> If you pass, you now get a green magnetic 'N' to stick on the back of your car, which allows you to drive by yourself, but with restrictions: you can only have one person outside of your immediate family in the car at a time, you are not allowed to drive outside the Province, and like before, you cannot drive between 23:00 and 5:00; you can go on the highway now, however. You keep your N for two years, but if you receive more than three driving infractions, then you have your N taken away, you have to redo the test, and you have to start the two years all over again. After these two years, you can take your Class 5 (full licence for cars) test, and if you pass, you get your Class 5 licence. Failing is the same as it is with your N test: extra cost, and a two-month waiting period. Note that for driving a truck or a motorcycle, an additional 1.5 year-long course and test is required.
I've currently had my N for thirteen months, and have only just recently received one infraction, in which I parked in a residence lot due to my own stupidity.
+ I'm looking forward to getting my Class 5, only just under a year more to go!