from YAPRap January 2007 
by Rey Reodica*
The loss of a young life on NSW roads is a tragic event. A spate of incidents involving P-plate drivers over the past few months has certainly highlighted the dangers of driving and shown us all the pain and grief that comes in the aftermath of a fatal accident.
It is an unfortunate fact that young drivers are over-represented in crash statistics, however it is unclear what are the causes of this and, more importantly, what can be done about it.
The NSW Government has already introduced significant changes to the current licensing scheme. As of 1 July 2007, L-plate drivers will be required to complete 120 hours of supervised driving (up from 50 hours) and this must include at least 20 hours of driving at night. This change places a significantly greater burden upon young drivers and their supervisors, both in time and fuel costs.
However, these changes are probably not going to be the last. In late November, the NSW Minister for Roads formed the Young Drivers Advisory Panel to examine ways in which the Government can help to reduce the number of young drivers being killed on NSW roads. Panel members include representatives from:
- the Roads and Traffic Authority (RTA)
- NSW Police
- NRMA
- Commissioner for Children and Young People
- members of the NSW Youth Advisory Council.
The Government will consider the Panel's recommendations in early 2007.
The Roads Minister, Eric Roozendaal, has said that he doesn't want to penalise young drivers who are doing the right thing, but has an "open mind" about possible solutions to the current road toll. This means that all suggestions are still on the table, including more restrictions on young drivers.
However, overseas studies have shown that heavy restrictions are often ignored, due to the difficulty in enforcement. For example, in New Zealand, over 90% of young drivers admitted to breaking passenger restrictions, with a third doing so on a weekly basis.
Considering the number of restrictions already imposed on NSW young drivers, the Government should be encouraged to focus on improving driver attitudes through education, rather than imposing further licensing restrictions. Such restrictions are more likely to hurt those who follow the current rules, and leave those driving dangerously with absolutely no more protection or safety.
RTA statistics indicate there are over 340,000 restricted license holders in NSW that would be affected by any amendments to current rules, and the impact that such changes have on all these drivers needs to be taken into account. Unintended consequences of further restrictions could include forcing young people into unsafe situations such as hitchhiking or walking home at night, an increased number of P-plate cars on the road and preventing young designated drivers from keeping drunk drivers off the road.
What to do now?
Any young people or community members concerned about this issue are encouraged to write their concerns to the Minister and the Roads and Traffic Authority:
You can read some of the online news articles on this issue at www.yapa.org.au/youth/topics/driver.php
*Rey is a member of the RTA Young Drivers Advisory Panel as a representative of the NSW Youth Advisory Council.
Notes
Published: December 2006
Opinions: are the author's and not necessarily YAPA's.
