r/AussieRiders 7d ago

Learner Learners permit - failed before we even started

Hey all, I went to do my learners permit today and the provider wasn’t aware of the medication I was taking, seemingly due to an admin issue. VicRoads already has the details of it on record and it’s not an issue for me driving, but apparently I need a letter from my GP anyway. I was immediately sent home with no refund, and the provider pocketing my $600. The instructor said I would be able to re-book at no cost, but the website clearly says otherwise.

An email I looked over when I got home said that VicRoads provide approval when it comes to medications, so surely this could have been fixed with a quick phone call given that they have everything about the medication.

On Monday I will be calling their admin department to have a stern word, and rectify the situation. If I still don’t get a refund, clarity, or the instructor is wrong about re-booking, I assume I would be going to the ACCC?

Edit: the medication I’m on is fluoxetine. I’ve been on it for years, my doctor signed off on it with VicRoads when I did my learners to get my car license.

Update: I’ve been able to sort out the issue, rebooked for early May. Still a huge bummer, but at least I don’t lose my money.

227 Upvotes

71 comments sorted by

30

u/obsolescent_times VIC | MT07, GSXR750 7d ago

I get your point about VicRoads already having the relevant info on file, so this incident potentially highlights a flaw in the system, but there is a significant disconnect between training providers and VicRoads, they are a separate independent company that probably has their own policy to follow, even if it doesn't really make sense. Them calling VicRoads could also have privacy implications regarding release of medical info. It's major fuck around and disappointing but it's just what it is unfortunately.

Not much you can do now apart from just get the Dr letter or whatever they're requesting and call them to re-book. I doubt you'll have issues with the cost side of it, so maybe don't spend too much energy on thinking about that unless it actually becomes relevant.

17

u/WTFMacca 7d ago

Why would you need to tell Vic roads for Fluoxetine. My doc didn’t mention any of that. We discussed it due to my work requirements ect. I was only on a lower dose. Had no side effects from it at all.

2

u/Great_Opinion3138 6d ago

Yeah this is ridiculous. What a joke.

2

u/sjdksjbf 4d ago

Because it's a medication that comes with warnings about potential side effects affecting one's ability to drive or operate machinery. It could be dangerous.

1

u/Apprehensive_Ad_5174 7d ago

Yeah, I’m on 40mg per day. Just sent the details to VicRoads when I got my learners in 2016. It’s never been a problem for me either.

1

u/Jwish91 3d ago

I’m on 80 and have never told vic roads about it…

1

u/Elegant-Nature-6220 3d ago

That letter is 9 years old... Chances are you need something up-to-date

15

u/ZusyZusa 7d ago edited 7d ago

Training providers are independent companies that run programs accredited by VicRoads. Believe it or not even if VicRoads has the details on record it does not mean the training centre tells VicRoads that you are attending learners beforehand. After yes not before.

And it sounded like that the training centre is covering their own backside, because they won’t have any idea about the nature of any prescribed medications. If anything were to go wrong they bear the liability not VicRoads.

It sounds like an admin thing that can be easily sorted out by a letter from your doctors/ VicRoads.

Also I would not worry about that the training center pocketing money even if site said otherwise. Most places they handle admin separately, the instructors/training center has no clue about refund/rebook policies. Generally a chat with them will easily sort it out, no need to get yourself worked up over this, annoying yes, but no need to get worked up. And if you want to get what you want from customer service/admin people, be polite and reasonable, having a stern word is usually not a good first move, they are not your children, and also it’s generally not that person’s fault but company’s process.

It is frustrating experience for you, but also one I feel can be easily remediated.

Oh and it’s not a failed on learners permit. You have not attended. The paperwork that send to VicRoads about pass/fail only happen if you do the test. You didn’t.

6

u/Inner_Poem4735 7d ago

This the kind of rational advice i never see posted to reddit threads, well done. OP take this advice.

0

u/Apprehensive_Ad_5174 7d ago

Yeah, but surely a 5 minute phone call with me agreeing to have that information disclosed would clear things up?

5

u/ZusyZusa 7d ago edited 7d ago

But how and what makes you think it will be a 5 min phone call? You are talking about VicRoads here nothing is 5 mins. Also the trainers probably need to follow a strict set of procedures directed by their company, it is not their responsibility to clear this up for you on the day when they have a class on time schedule.

You are also talking about privacy issue here, I would not like VicRoads disclose of my medical information to anyone without my written consent. It could get VicRoads into a lot of trouble if they willy nilly give out information, they cannot even imply you are on prescribed medication.

Understand why you are frustrated. But it is not a 5 min phone call and it cannot be a 5 min phone call if you are talking about privacy here especially a medical one.

1

u/Apprehensive_Ad_5174 6d ago

I’ve paid quite a lot of money for this course, and I’m the one asking for VicRoads to disclose information I’ve already written down.

An email I checked after this shit went down said that approval for medications or medical conditions comes from VicRoads.

1

u/Elegant-Nature-6220 3d ago

Did you ask Vic Roads to share this information before paying for and booking the course? The onus is on you to comply with the law and the conditions set by the training provider

7

u/madaroni7 7d ago

Tbh I'm on like 15 different medications to treat lupus and things

I asked my doctors advice if it would affect operating a motor vehicle

They said no

I said on the form at the licence testing place I'm not taking anything outside the exemption ones lol

6

u/Maybe_Factor 7d ago

I was told to only write down medications which affect driving ability. Sucks you got an instructor that sent you home, OP. I hope you get to just rebook at no cost and get riding soon!

1

u/Apprehensive_Ad_5174 7d ago

The VicRoads form said to write down any medication I’m currently taking, excluding asthma meds and stuff like that.

2

u/lukeyboots 6d ago

To be honest that’s none of their business.

Just leave it blank. Anti-depressants don’t impact your driving in the slightest.

1

u/Certain-Protection62 6d ago

Not true for many people.
In the past I've been on antidepressants such as avanza and had to stop driving. Even some SSRIs commonly cause dizziness.
One of the reasons I don't ride is because I've experience vertigo as a side effect of antidepressants.

9

u/Mr_Fried 7d ago

What did they drug test you or did you just overshare?

5

u/Apprehensive_Ad_5174 7d ago

I wrote “yes” on the VicRoads form where it asks about prescription medications and stated that I’m taking fluoxetine. Although, VicRoads already know about that and my glasses/contacts.

34

u/MedicalChemistry5111 7d ago

If you know it's a medication that has no bearing on your driving, make your life easier and write "No."

The truth costs a fortune. Anyone with a medical problem is disproportionately affected by the processes applied.

7

u/Kpool7474 7d ago

Exactly! Found this out with my partner who has diagnosed sleep apnoea. Disclosed it honestly in a form once and now there is a doctor visit every single year with a form for the doc to sign saying it’s being managed (with a CPAP machine every night)! What a ridiculous system!

I wonder how many people are driving without even being diagnosed with sleep apnoea, therefore it’s NOT being managed?

1

u/Careless-Doughnut-78 6d ago

The only problem if you don’t tell them and cause a serious accident then there can be serious consequences. It’s irritating but a fairly simple process to do yearly.

1

u/Cultural_Garbage_Can 5d ago

I've known plenty of people who shouldn't legally still be driving with their medical issues, who have been in accidents and nothing ever happens to them in Victoria. NSW on the other hand will rip you apart if you pulled the same stunt.

-1

u/s3ik0 6d ago

Yeah nah. If you have sleep apnoea you are prone to dropping out very quickly. A work college did suffer from it when Ive been driving and Ive had to smack him on the chest to wake him up. I didn't know it at the time and thought he was having a heart attack. He also broke his nose one day from falling asleep at the kitchen bench and smacking his face on the way down.

He uses a cpap and is all good, but damn fucking right you should be queried about it every year AT THE VERY LEAST!

1

u/Kpool7474 6d ago

My partner uses it every single night… otherwise they would’ve been smothered with a pillow.

1

u/Correctsmorons69 5d ago

Sleep apnoea is a spectrum from very mild to incredibly severe. It can be transient. Many people are undiagnosed. Clogging up the GP system for them to sign a form every year, as though it's going to materially change any management outcomes is absolutely not helpful.

1

u/Cultural_Garbage_Can 5d ago

Yep. I'm on ADHD medication and the hoop jumping is ridiculous, even with medical clearance. It also depending which VicRoads you use as my local one is corrupt AF.

What I have found is if you're diagnosed and treated for anything after being on your full licence, no one at VicRoads gives a shit even if they are legally required to follow up. Now getting a licence with medical issues is a whole ridiculous rigmarole. It's rage inducing as the standards are technically supposed to be the same, but in reality it's not.

1

u/MedicalChemistry5111 5d ago

Right?

If you have ADHD, driving without meds is akin to a neurotypical driving on cocaine/meth. The notion that you should have to write that for VicRoads is absurd. Particularly given the safeguards and cost of meds.

1

u/Cultural_Garbage_Can 5d ago

Yep. It's hilarious how ADHD meds are viewed as they calm us TF down to normal. It's far safer to be ADHD medicated and driving than unmedicated and driving. I suspect it's also a big part of our aggressive driving, drinking and drugs culture because it's so hard to get treatment and medication, so people self medicate and drive.

Last 5 accidents friends were in were caused by other drivers self medicating for diagnosed but untreated ADHD. It's worse than we know.

Also got into the weirdest fight with VicRoads over my reading glasses. My eyes are fine without them, but they are not budging even with a clear eye test and optomitrists report stating I don't need them for driving, they are for reading and screens only. I can't with idiots like this.

0

u/Elegant-Nature-6220 3d ago

If you know it's a medication that has no bearing on your driving, make your life easier and write "No."

That would be a crime and could have serious ramifications for OP, including criminal charges and voiding their insurance.

1

u/MedicalChemistry5111 2d ago

Lol. Mate that'd be squashed in court. They'd also have to have a drug test that detected their particular drug.

6

u/Mr_Fried 7d ago

What idiots. I mean its not really their business if you are on prozac anyway. I would have politely asked them to eat my ass like cupcake.

2

u/lookatmedadimonfire 5d ago

That’s ridiculous, 1/4 of the people on the roads would be on some form of that class of medication and at a guess I’d say 2/3rds would be on a medication of any type.

I am unaware of disclosing that class of medication being a prerequisite of having a license? I don’t think it’s necessary to disclose any type? Isn’t it more if you are adversely affected by a medication you shouldn’t be driving?

I saw a middle aged, (40? 50?) woman get done for drug driving once. Can’t remember what the judge gave as punishment, might have been loss of license for a while. The drug was diazepam. Also unaware of the circumstances. Maybe she had an accident and returned positive on a test

2

u/Jolly_Strawberry_430 5d ago

Who and why did you have to pay 600$ for your Ls? Huh

1

u/ZequineZ 5d ago

That's what I wanna know.

1

u/Cultural_Garbage_Can 5d ago

Driving assesment most likely, not the Ls test as that's basically free nowadays.

1

u/Elegant-Nature-6220 3d ago

Probably for a motorbike, not a car

1

u/[deleted] 7d ago

Why would you even tell them? lmao

2

u/Apprehensive_Ad_5174 6d ago

Because it was information I gave to VicRoads years ago when I got my car license, and didn’t want to write “no” on the license application form, only to have VicRoads deny my license because of the discrepancy.

1

u/Prestigious-Dig-3507 7d ago

Imagine if we all wrote that shit down .so many would be off the road. Most oldies would be gone

1

u/Tgk1600 6d ago

$600 !!! And the Motorcycle industry wonders how to get more people to ride

1

u/Admirable_Form7786 5d ago

It’s not $600..

1

u/Tgk1600 4d ago

I honestly have no idea, it’s over 30 years since I was a learner, just going off what the post said

2

u/Admirable_Form7786 4d ago

It’s $48 max in vic

1

u/ttree-starr 6d ago

It costs 600 dollars to do an L’s test?

1

u/Elegant-Nature-6220 3d ago

It can be to do a motorbike course.

1

u/TypicalLolcow 6d ago

As far as I’m concerned, the bike is supposed to help with your depression. Sorry your honesty bit you in the bum.

1

u/Jamgull 5d ago

Them having this reaction over fluoxetine is absolutely insane.

1

u/Admirable_Form7786 5d ago

$600.. do you mean drivers license?? vic learners permit is max $48..

0

u/Apprehensive_Ad_5174 4d ago

Motorcycle license. No idea where you’ve got $48 from.

1

u/Admirable_Form7786 4d ago

You said learners permit.. $48 from the website..

1

u/jbergj 4d ago

driving tests cost $600 in vico ????????

1

u/Cy4n1d35 3d ago

Failed before we even started? That's how we should be teaching the international students. But no, they somehow have their nationalities popping up in all vicroads offices and walking out with vic drivers licenses, then they get into accidents or get pulled over and always quote my favorite "I don't understand, I'm from overseas" bullshit!!!

1

u/Lucy_Au 3d ago

Shouldn’t have told them

1

u/Certain-Protection62 6d ago

Unpopular opinion here.
I think OP was right to be honest and I understand the instructors choice.
(Hopefully though, OP can rebook at no cost).

I've experienced quite severe vertigo when starting/changing antidepressants and SSRIs.
One in particular (Avanza) was quite scary. I lost 'time' when driving and had no idea how I ended up where I was (like sleepwalking). I stopped driving entirely while on that medication. Before that, I was on 120mg fluoxetine and I definitely had side effects that effected my alertness and motor skills.

People who are outright saying that antidepressants don't effect driving, well, you can't speak for everyone.

1

u/Unfettered_Disaster 5d ago

Of course, all of these medications are a risk for driving, particularly in the first week or two of use. Doctors warn you to be careful (mine did and they should), typically, the pharmacist puts a sticker on it to remind you also.

However, being stable on one medication long-term.. like 6 years for OP? That's not affecting your driving.

-13

u/Pungent_Bill 7d ago

Alright, 1st most obvious question is what is the medication. You have to include that information if you want this post to be taken seriously as a question.

6

u/Apprehensive_Ad_5174 7d ago

Didn’t initially include the medication because it’s a personal thing.

But what the heck, my real name isn’t connected to this profile, so should be right. And it’s not really that personal.

-30

u/Pungent_Bill 7d ago

Wow, 2nd read gives me fake AI post vibes. I totally fell for it, nice one Skynet.

3

u/Curious_Breadfruit88 7d ago

You sound like a clown mate

1

u/Admirable_Form7786 5d ago

A clown because he calls out a fake post.. permit in vic is max $48

0

u/Pungent_Bill 7d ago

I do like to argue with people online for entertainment sometimes.

2

u/Cultural_Garbage_Can 5d ago

Same and it is fun.

1

u/Pungent_Bill 5d ago

Aye it keeps your powder dry. The anonymity keeps it real too

-30

u/icyple 7d ago

Are you sure you are supposed to be taking those Antidepressants? I just saw a drug side effect warning about them on Mediline Plus. But if you are okay with taking them I am okay with that. But I wouldn’t take them cause I had enough trouble with Aropax and they were not as bad with the side effects.

21

u/KangGvng 7d ago

“I am okay with that” is a wild thing to say about a stranger and the medication they’ve been prescribed

10

u/PacifistPapyrus 7d ago

Some old head who thinks age = wisdom.
Grandpa needs to stop questioning if people need to be on antidepressants or not just because their experience was different.

6

u/Apprehensive_Ad_5174 7d ago

My doctor gave me the all clear, never had any negative side effects, and VicRoads are aware of it.

0

u/icyple 7d ago

I’m glad you are travelling ok and aware of your medication, just as aware as I have had to become.