New P-plate Laws To 'save Young Lives'

[skybox 32]

PROBATIONARY drivers will be banned from driving high-powered vehicles and making mobile calls while driving under tough new laws set to be introduced next year.

Those found drink-driving will be forced to have alcohol interlock devices — which require a driver to pass a breath test before allowing a car to start — installed in their car.

Under the changes, outlined by Transport Minister Peter Batchelor yesterday, a new licensing scheme will increase the time drivers spend on P-plates by a year.

In a two-tiered system similar to that in NSW, P-platers will first be awarded a P1 licence (red P-plates). They must then display a good driving record for a year before progressing to a P2 licence (green P-plates).

Learner drivers under the age of 21 will be required to clock up 120 hours of supervised driving and hold their learner's permit for 12 months, an increase from the present six-month requirement.

The dramatic overhaul comes after the State Government's August 2005 discussion paper, which received more than 800 submissions on ways to reduce the high number of deaths and injuries on Victorian roads involving young drivers.

Young drivers are over-represented when it comes to deaths and serious injuries on Victoria's roads. In 2004, 27 per cent of drivers killed were aged between 18 and 25, yet this group represents only 14 per cent of Victorian licence holders.

Within the past five years, 111 people aged between 16 and 20 have died in traffic accidents, accounting for 12 per cent of the total of 867. Of those, 45 died between 10pm and 6am.

The number of people aged between 16 and 20 that were seriously injured on the roads in that same period is 2150.

Research shows that the more practice a learner driver gets, the lower the risk of being involved in a crash once they are licensed.

Premier Steve Bracks said it was estimated the laws would save at least 12 lives in the first year and reduce the number of injuries by about 800 young people per year.

"It will be a life saver," he said. "Crashes involving young drivers account for a third of our road toll — that is 120 deaths and 2300 serious injuries every year."

The changes to the high-powered vehicle restrictions and the new learner permit requirement will be introduced in July 2007, with the P1/P2 probationary licensing system brought in during July 2008.

However, Opposition transport spokesman Terry Mulder said the Government had missed an opportunity to provide proper driver education.

"The Liberals have a policy of paying for three professional lessons for learners," he said. "That way drivers won't be taught bad habits over 12 months."

Victoria Police's Assistant Commissioner (Traffic) Noel Ashby said he was "delighted" at the new changes.

"It builds skills for the future and it will keep people alive in that group," he said.

RACV general manager Ken Ogden welcomed the changes but said they did not go far enough by failing to ban probationary drivers carrying multiple passengers. With

[Jezza-gtR]

Very last year mate

[skybox 32]

lol i heard it on the radio today. i think the laws come into effect 1 July 2008

[R31Nismoid]

They've been around for quite some time.

Note July 2007 in the article, it was all stuff announced quite some time ago.

We dont really need another thread