When a person is learning how to drive, then it is important that person should have a log book with them. This helps you to note down your progress and the total number of hours that you have spent learning to drive. It also works as proof that you have gained enough experience to drive safely and have the confidence to drive under any conditions and circumstances that can be essential for meeting licensing requirements. You will be able to drive at any time, whether it is bright daylight or dark nighttime. It will also show that you are eligible to handle different weather conditions like heavy rain, foggy roads, dusty winds, and many more.
A logbook is an essential thing for learner drivers. However, many people do make some very common errors in their logbooks, like forgetting to update entries, making mistakes in calculations, and not completing the required hours. These mistakes can create problems in passing the driving test. But, there is no need for you to worry, as here we will inform you about the most common mistakes and some valuable advice that will help you to avoid those mistakes. All of the information will help you to become a skilled driver and pass your driving test effectively.
1. What Is A Log Book?
A logbook is a book in which you record all the necessary pieces of information in a properly organised way. It is especially important to have a logbook when you are taking driving classes from a certified driving school. It will help you to document your progress in learning how to drive and keep an official record of the driving hours. There are different options available to keep a logbook for yourself. You can either buy a paper logbook or you can download a digital logbook application. Many people nowadays prefer to have a digital logbook as making regular entries is a more easy and convenient option. However, the choice is completely up to you.
2. Common Log Book Errors
When you are keeping a logbook to record your driving progress. It is important that you should know about these common errors you will be able to avoid the mistakes that can slow down your learning progress and make sure that your records are entered perfectly. Below you will learn about the common logbook errors.
I. Inaccurate Time Calculations
The very first and one of the most common mistakes that people make is to calculate inaccurate timings in their logbooks. This small error creates multiple problems in their journey of learning to drive a car. The major cause of inaccurate time calculations is because of either overestimating or underestimating the length of sessions. When a person has inaccurate timings in their logbook then that individual will not be aware of the total time they have spent practising and sharpening their driving skill. The miscalculation of timings also makes the person stressed and creates lots of confusion about the total number of practice hours that have been completed.
II. Incomplete Entries
It is important for a person to make sure that there are no incomplete entries in the logbook as it will significantly impact their learning process as it becomes hard for instructors to monitor the progress. Some major reasons for incomplete entries are because of forgetting to add important details like the time of the beginning and end of sessions. Many people often make the mistake of speeding up the process of their logging that they forget to put all the important information in their logbooks. When there are incomplete details then the logbook becomes an untrustworthy source of information which eventually causes trouble in passing the test and getting the licence to drive their car.
III. Unsigned Pages
It is important to make sure that the pages of your logbook should be signed by your supervisors. Lots of people are in such a rush that right after completing their driving session, they forget to get the signature of their driving instructor. Some new drivers are not aware of the fact that each entry needs the official signature of the driving instructors to be valid. Because of this reason lots of new drivers have incomplete entries. There are plenty of licensing authorities that require you to have the sign of supervisors to ensure that you have taken your driving sessions. If the logbook pages are not signed then it can delay your licensing process.
IV. Missing Minimum Driving Hours
Before you head for your driving test you need to make sure that the logbook is not missing the requirement for minimum driving hours. This is a common error that many new drivers make during their learning period. The main cause for this mistake is not properly updating the records in the logbooks which leads to miscalculation of driving hours or forgetting to enter certain driving sessions. Some learners make the mistake of rushing, they start to assume that they have learned everything and are ready for the driving test. However, they do not realise that they need to complete a specific number of 120 hours before applying for the test.
3. Advice To Avoid Common Log Book Errors
Now that you know about the common mistakes, you need to make sure that your logbook is completely correct and updated. For this, you can follow some valuable advice that you should implement to avoid the common errors in your logbook.
I. Make Logging A Habit
The first thing that a person should do to avoid making mistakes in a logbook is to develop a habit of logging on a regular basis. When you make a schedule for updating your logbook then you make sure that driving hours are accurate which is essential to fulfil the requirement of getting the licence to drive. If you delay your logging then you might forget the details of your driving sessions and this will make your logbook less reliable.This habit also makes sure that you have completed the driving hours and have learned all the necessary things to pass your driving test.
II. Choose A Format
It is important that a learner choose a format to enter the data in the logbook. It will help in avoiding common errors and make the process of logging more comfortable and easy. A proper format helps in reducing confusion and makes you more consistent. It is highly recommended that a person should only use one kind of logbook whether it is a paper logbook or a digital logbook. If a person decides to have both kinds of logbooks and keeps switching between paper and digital then it will only invite more confusion and will be quite stressful.
III. Review Entries With The Supervisor
Lastly, a learner driver should always make sure that their logbook entries of the driving sessions are reviewed by their supervisors. This will help you avoid all kinds of common errors like wrong calculations of timings, unfinished entries, or incorrect hours of driving. Regular review of entries decreases any chances of mistakes and increases the layer of accountability which helps in building reliable records. This also ensures that your entries have the official signature of your driving instructor which is a crucial thing for the process of getting a driver’s licence. It also offers you peace of mind knowing that your logbook is complete, correct, and ready for submission.
Final Thoughts
Here, you have gained complete knowledge about what a logbook is, and the common errors that many new learner drivers make like incorrect calculations of timings, not completing the entries in their logbook, forgetting to get the entries signed by their driving instructors, and missing the total required driving hours. In this article you learned about some valuable advice that helps you to avoid the mistakes in your logbook like making a habit of regularly updating the logbook, selecting the right format, and making sure that the entries are checked and signed by the officials. All of the information you receive will help you smooth the process of getting your driver’s licence.
At Sprint Driving School, we offer new drivers with proper guidance and teach them all the lessons to make them skilled and safe drivers on the road. We have highly experienced and professional trainers who help you with every step of your way on your journey of learning how to drive. Our staff members are incredibly friendly and teach you to clear all your doubts by offering guidance and paying special attention to your weak areas of driving. If you have any more questions then you can contact us by calling 03 9578 0120 or sending us an email at booking@aasprint.com.au. You can put your trust in us to learn to drive.
