Driver Responsibilities, Licensing and Legal Obligations
You must be licensed for what you drive
You may only drive a vehicle of a class covered by a valid licence or learner permit held by you. A learner permit carries conditions - commonly that a qualified licensed driver supervises you and that learner plates are displayed. Those conditions are part of the law, not advice: breaching them is an offence and can invalidate insurance.
Documents and duties
- Carry your licence, the vehicle's registration and evidence of insurance.
- The vehicle must have at least third-party insurance covering injury or damage you cause to others.
- Never lend a vehicle to someone you know is unlicensed, uninsured or unfit to drive.
- Stop after any collision. Give your name, address and registration to anyone with reasonable grounds to ask. Report collisions involving injury, or damage to property or an animal, to the police.
- Seat belts must be worn by the driver and passengers where fitted; children must be properly restrained.
- Do not use a hand-held phone while driving.
- Do not drive after drinking alcohol or taking drugs that impair you. The safest rule is none at all.
- Keep your licence and vehicle records up to date, including any change of address, and declare medical conditions that affect your driving.
Traps
Questions that imply insurance is optional, that a licence covers every vehicle, or that you may leave the scene of a collision if damage looks minor. Others suggest a supervising driver may be unlicensed.
Worked example
A friend asks to borrow your car; his licence expired last month. You must refuse - you would be permitting unlicensed driving, and any collision would leave you exposed. Rule of thumb: no valid licence, no insurance, no drive.