Harsh penalties for new drivers

The Roads and Traffic Authority (RTA) believes the changes will encourage greater road safety awareness among young drivers, those affected aren't completely in agreement.

According to RTA statistics, young drivers represent 13 per cent of licensed drivers, yet they are involved in 26 per cent of all fatal crashes.

Another strict change will have P1 drivers losing three points if caught driving with more than one passenger under 21 between the hours of 11pm and 5am. This rule applies to all red P-plate drivers under 25 years of age.

Mobile phones will be completely banned while driving, taking away the option of hands-free and loudspeaker use. And L-plates and P-plates must be displayed outside the vehicle, meaning they are no longer allowed to sit inside the windscreen. Fines apply to all these infringements.

RTA road safety general manager, Dr Soames Job, says the new rules will encourage safer driving practices among new drivers.

“In broad terms, we're hoping to achieve a reduction in the road trauma, which is happening to, and being caused by, young drivers. We hope to do that by changing their behaviour,” he says.

Dr Job says advanced driver training courses aren't the solution as they can encourage young people to become overconfident in their abilities.

He says until the skill of driving has been mastered and is automatic, other factors are more likely to affect the driver.

“These problems aren't because of a lack of car-handling skills, they are a lack of judgement and a lack of caution,” he says.

Dr Job says P1 drivers account for about 7 per cent of licensed drivers, yet constitute 41per cent of infringements for driving 45km or more above the speed limit.

“I think that's really a damning statistic for young drivers,” he says.

“What we're saying is we're giving you a motivation not to take risks, or there's going to be a penalty.”

And while P1 drivers will be able to apply for an exemption for the extra passenger rule between 11pm and 5am for work and other commitments. Dr Job says this won't necessarily apply for driving people to and from work.

“The evidence says P1 drivers are more likely to have a serious crash when they have passengers on board,” he says.

“We will still have crashes, but I think these rules will reduce the number of severe and fatal crashes happening with provisional drivers.”

But it seems L-Plate and P-plate drivers don't altogether agree. The new laws will directly affect Sydney teenager Natasha Karagounis will be directly affected by the new laws, having obtained her license just three weeks ago. The 19-year-old says she was initially excited when getting her license, but was not very happy to learn about the new rules.

Karagounis says not all P-platers are bad drivers and they shouldn't be restricted because of the actions of others. “I have never had any problems at all, I think it's unfair some of us get stereotyped. There are these new rules for us when we've done nothing wrong,” she says.

As an older red P-plate driver, she is particularly annoyed about only being able to carry one passenger after 11pm.

“I go out a lot with friends, usually between 11pm and 5am,” she says. “Now I can only have one passenger.”

Karagounis often heads into the city and says she and her friends usually take it in turns to be designated driver. But not any more.

“We'll have to either get a train or taxi or everyone will have to drive now. It's really inconvenient,” she says. “Taxis cost a lot and trains stop at 2am, we'll have to wait until 5am.”

Karagounis says authorities shouldn't be targeting just P-platers and that some of the laws should be mandatory for everyone, such as a complete ban on mobile phones.

The university student also believes that losing your license for speeding is too strict.

“If you're not speeding a lot, like 5km over, I think it's a bit unfair to lose your license rather than lose just three points,” she says.

L-platers will also be affected by the changes. The compulsory 50 hours on-road experience will jump to 120 hours for anyone getting their license from this Sunday.

Dr Job says evidence shows the extra experience plays a big role in making young drivers more aware of what can go wrong and anticipating other drivers' behaviour.

Learner driver Paul Zergara is pleased he got his permit before the new laws apply. Over the past five months, he's clocked up 20 hours, mainly with a professional instructor. “My parents encourage me not to go with them, I think they're scared of me driving,” he says.

The 18-year-old says he feels sorry for new learners who will have to do the extra hours, especially those who will have to pay a professional instructor.

And he isn't looking forward to the extra restrictions once getting his provisional license.

Like Karagounis, he is concerned about only being able to drive one person after 11pm, especially with his youth group commitments, which would have had him driving other people home after 11pm. “I think it's unfair, it seems a bit stereotypical categorising all people as dangerous and bad,” he says.

While Zergara doesn't condone speeding, he thinks losing your license for the offence is a little harsh. And despite his disagreement with the new laws, he admits they will make him more cautious on the road. Both of the new drivers believe changing the laws seems like a quick fix and Zergara says he would like to see more education introduced.

“There should be more training, better understanding on how the car actually works, the test isn't really enough,” he says.

Meanwhile, the Monash University Accident Research Centre this week launched a campaign encouraging parents to become more involved with their children's driving.

They suggest parents sign a Vehicle Access Agreement with their child.

This formal agreement should place further conditions and restrictions on the young driver for the first 12 months of the P-plate period, limiting the time a young person can drive and the number of passengers they carry.

The new rules

Speeding

License suspension for any speeding offence for P1 car drivers and provisional motorbike riders. The penalty is a minimum of four demerit points and license suspended for at least three months. A fine also applies.

Mobile phones

A ban on all mobile phone use for learner, P1 car drivers and provisional motorbike riders. The penalty is three demerit points and a fine (or four demerit points if in a school zone). A fine also applies.

Curfew

P1 drivers under 25 must not drive between 11pm and 5am with more than one passenger under the age of 21. The penalty is three demerit points and a fine. Drivers can apply for an exemption if they drive a car with passengers at work, but not necessarily for getting to and from work.

Plate display

L- or P-plates may no longer be displayed from inside your vehicle. You must clearly display L- and P-plates on the front and back of the outside of the vehicle. The penalty is two demerit points and a fine.

Learners

Learner drivers getting a permit on or after July 1, 2007, will need to hold the permit for a minimum of 12 months and complete at least 120 hours of supervised driving (including 20 hours of night driving) before they can apply for their P1 license.