Safer roads, safer speeds, safer road users and safer vehicles are important to both the community and the government. Let's work together to reduce the road toll.

F for a comprehensive guide to road safety in South Australia , please visit the Road Safety website.

What do you need to do?

You must be 16 years or older before you can apply for a learner's permit.

You must first sit for a theory test on the road rules and road safety topics at any Customer Service Centre
This can take 30 minutes or more.

You will be given a temporary learner's permit when you:

• have passed the theory test
• paid the fee
• had your photo taken.

You also need to bring:

• evidence of identity that verifies your identity, age, signature and residential address
• the fee for your learner's permit and a separate fee for the theory test
• a medical certificate if you have a medical condition, which may affect your ability to drive.

Your photo learner's permit will be posted to you within one week.

Once you have met the above requirements, you can look at the options for obtaining your provisional licence.

Motorcycle licence (Rider Safe)
If you have a car learner's permit or licence and wish to ride a motor cycle, this can be done by paying for and enrolling in a Rider Safe course.

If you don't have a licence or a learner's permit you must first pass the theory test, then upon successful completion of the test you may pay for the Rider Safe course. Once you have paid for the course you are then able to make a booking for the Rider Safe course.

There are two course levels, Level 1 basic course and the Level 2 advanced course.

In order to obtain a restricted Class R (Date) licence it is necessary to undertake both courses with the Level 1 being completed before the Level 2 can be commenced.

Having only the Class R (Date) licence does not licence you to operate a car.

Payment for both Rider Safe courses must be made through a Customer Service Centre before a course booking can be made.

Course bookings are made by phoning Rider Safe on the toll free number between 8.30 am and 5 pm, Monday to Friday .

Conditions applying to a learner's permit

All learner drivers must:

• be accompanied by a Qualified Supervising Driver* (not being a provisional or probationary licence) of the class appropriate to the vehicle being driven by the learner driver (not applicable to motor bike riders unless they are carrying a pillion passenger who must hold a full motor bike licence)
• not drive a motor vehicle or attempt to put a motor vehicle in motion when there is any concentration of alcohol in their blood or the presence of THC (Cannabis), Methylamphetamine (Speed) or MDMA (Ecstasy) in their blood or oral fluid.
• not drive a motor vehicle at a speed exceeding by 10 km/h or more of any speed limit under the Road Traffic Act or Motor Vehicles Act
• not exceed the 80 km/h speed limit (or 100 km/h if accompanied by a motor driving instructor, in a clearly marked driving school vehicle which is fitted with a passenger operated service brake) prescribed under the Motor Vehicles Act for learner drivers
• not accumulate four or more demerit points during the learner's permit period
• not drive a motor vehicle on the road unless the prescribed ‘L' plates are displayed so as to be clearly visible from the front and rear of the vehicle (rear only for motor cycles)
• carry the learner's permit at all times while driving.

A learner's permit holder, who fails to comply with the learner's permit conditions, can be disqualified from driving for six months and have their permit cancelled.

Where the learner's permit holder returns from a disqualification, the total minimum period of time they are required to hold their permit increases from six to nine months. The time the learner's permit was held prior to the disqualification will be taken into consideration.

From 31 October 2006, disqualified learner's permit drivers will be required to pass the theory test again, prior to being re-issued with a permit, or pass the basic Rider Safe course again if a motorcyclist. Regression penalties and frequently asked questions has further information on the Graduated Licensing Scheme.

* A Qualified Supervising Driver (QSD) must have held an unconditional/full licence for the last 2 years without disqualification. The driver cannot hold a provisional or probationary licence or be subject to the condition of “Good Behaviour”. The QSD must not have a Blood Alcohol Reading of more than 0.05 or the presence of THC (Cannabis) or Methylamphetamine (Speed) in their blood or oral fluid.