New WA P-Plater Laws

[AWD Chaser]

New reports released this morning states that new legislation will be introduced into Western Australia for P-Platers which will enforce a curfew between midnight and 5am and also only allow them to carry one passenger under 20 for the first 6 months.

Do you agree with this?

[AWD Chaser]

Latest update on this is the following:

• P-Platers will be allowed to apply for an exemption for night driving if for example they have a night job
• P-Platers will not be allowed more then one person in a vehicle at any time, unless the other people have more then 4 years driving experience. This is to allow a P-Plater to gain road driving skills for the frist 6 months of driving without being distracted.
• WA is trying to push for 120 hours or drving on L's before going to a Prvisional Licence. Currently they only require 25 hours.
• The bans will come into effect as of Jan 1, 2008

I personally think that a night ban between 12am to 5am is pointless. Crash statistics anyone?

[Mike Gayner]

Here in NZ drivers with restricted licenses are not allowed on the road between 10pm and 7am and no passengers unless the front seat passenger is over 25 and holds a full license. The rules don't really worry me because even though I am on a restricted licence I never, ever get pulled over (although if I do I'm looking at a $400 fine). I'm sure it would be a pain in the butt in Australia where I have heard the police are a lot more diligent.

I have been eligible for my full license for years now but just haven't bothered to pay the $130 and sit through a 45 minute driving test when there is no point.

[svo347]

Theres a thread on this already but anyhoo.
You forgot.
BAL of zero
Lose 4 points in the 1st year and lose your license

[PH47]

Heh.. all these limits and stuff are getting rediculous.

What's next, not allowed outside after dark? Can't cross the road without someone holding your hand? No Tv shows, movies, or games with higher than G rating?

[4.9 EF Futura]

Originally Posted by svo347

BAL of zero
Lose 4 points in the 1st year and lose your license

I imagine there are forms of these restrictions already in place? Similar in SA. Definately 0 BAC and i think you only get 4 points to begin with...

Acknowledge trying to address the problem but this just goes too far in "ruining it for the good ones" IMO.

[deesun]

As this is only for the first six months I don't have a problem with it. The 12 to 5 restriction, is it only to get from home to work? I would hope so. 6 months isn't very long and if implimented here I would think just a fine with no points lost.

[flappist]

Lot of new ideas here, I had only 4 points on my P licence..... in 1976.....

[AUIIIXR8]

I don't agree with the loose 4 points part. You can loose 4 points for sneezing at easter or christmas. Most of the rest has some merit though. i say i'm 60/40.

[I6corp]

I totally dissagree with the 12pm-5am law, thats absolute bull.

What about all the 18-21 yr olds that go out, and their mates that are the driver for the night?
Im sure most of them are on their P's!


:( Not happy

[bessxg]

I think that it's ridiculous that they rejected the 120 hours and 3 year provisional period, and opted for sitting in the car next to you holding your hand. Its alot harder to forge 120 hours - more people would get caught out, and the 3 year period is an extra year of having drivers that blow under 0.02.

I think 4 demerits is resonable, if people can understand consequences. Whats the reaction time difference of zero BAL to 0.02? If youre drunk youre drunk.

But with the curfew and passenger rules? I'd be inclined to rip down the P-plates, probably would get pulled over half as much anyway.

I'm glad this doesn't affect me, because I'd rather stay on my L's, I'd get more freedom that way.

[deesun]

Originally Posted by I6corp

I totally dissagree with the 12pm-5am law, thats absolute bull.

What about all the 18-21 yr olds that go out, and their mates that are the driver for the night?
Im sure most of them are on their P's!


:( Not happy

You missed the part when it said only the first 6 months. In NSW most kids would still be under 18 anyway. Inconvenience would be next to nil. They weren't driving after 12 before they got their P's anyhoo. Not alone anyway. Zero alchohol been in NSW for 12 months now. Again for the most part red P platers under 18.

[mcflux]

I think the curfew and passenger limitation laws are crap, but the others seem like good common sense.

Does WA have a power limitation law? I think one similar to Victoria's would be a good idea (but NOT NSW's!!!)

[IdentityCrisis]

Originally Posted by I6corp

I totally dissagree with the 12pm-5am law, thats absolute bull.

What about all the 18-21 yr olds that go out, and their mates that are the driver for the night?
Im sure most of them are on their P's!


:( Not happy

yeah power 2 the dd

[FPV8U]

Phew, you had me stressing, im looking at a Job in WA and thought they might have brought in power to weight ratio or something, i don't really mind about these regulations is the Curfew untill your off your P's or also onlyy for the 1st 6 months?

[Van D]

Why not more insentive's instead of punishments?

Whilst, it may help contain 'hoon' problems, it's bloody unfair on safe drivers.

[coonpanelvan]

all they will find is that no 1 will put up p plates, and u will find alot more p plate DD because these rules screw up the idea of a designated driver

[4Vman]

What time in the morning did that 19yo kid loose control of his car and plough it through the front of the house? how many passengers were in the car? and how old were they?

[Keepleft]

AU3 chaser - Latest update on this is the following:
[*]WA is trying to push for 120 hours or drving on L's before going to a Prvisional Licence. Currently they only require 25 hours.

The 120 hour suggestion will harmonise with most states and will aid in the implementation of an eventual national driver training scheme. I see no problem with this.

NSW will NOT use a curfew. WA folk not supporting the curfew would do well to nag their local MP's and the opposition 'right now'. Unless you stand up to this, you'll be trodden on for your apathy.

As in NSW, it is ALWAYS a very, very small minority of P platers who cause trouble AND come to grief, that figure will be far less than 1% of those licensed at any one time.

YES, naturally the young are over represented in crashes when compared to other age groups, this will not change - ever.


Mike Gaynor - What applies in NZ has no on road reality here in AUS whatsoever. AUS need not look to New Zealand for ideas on road safety, we do not now - and will not in the future.

[Smoked]

I did alot of driving after 12 when i was a learner, my mother insisted on using mainroads and freeways when they werent so busy.

So far, most incidents, near misses or plain stupidity that i have witnessed or be a party to has not occured after midnight, it tends to occur during the day.

[[Tonko]]

Originally Posted by Smoked

So far, most incidents, near misses or plain stupidity that i have witnessed or be a party to has not occured after midnight, it tends to occur during the day.

yeah most are between 3:30 and 5:30 when all the CRV's are out and the old rusty VC wagons are at centrelink picking up their DOLE payments.
didnt they say these laws wont start until 2008? most of ya's will be off your P's by then, but as usual they are just putting another patch on the law to save maybe 2 lives instead of a mandatory defensive driver course which will surely save alot more... just IMO

[max]

I agree a defensive driving course never goes astray!

[Smoked]

And its not like it will stupidly expensive if you have everyone required to do it.

[clontarf_x]

Once again WA feels it must fall into line with the rest of the country. I wish WA Government would grow some balls and not just find a nice comfy seat to sit in with all the rest of the blokes.

AFAIK We have the lowest number of P-plate incidents per person than any other state. We read no articles on our papers about P plate "hoons" or "dangers on the roads" yet for some reason our Government thinks it needs to conform.

s me off...

[Windsor220]

Geez i'm glad I got my licence just before the country started to stuff around with p plater laws.

First it changed the testing process and now they're bringing out all these new rules.

If a p plater really wants to drive at night they're still going to do it.

[Josh_XC]

the answer is not limitation on what p platers can and cant do the answer is more education into driving like driving schools. For god sake how is limiting a driver to only drive during the day going to make him a better driver. Its just another excuse for the government to get more money with fine for just driving at night.

Thanx god i got my p's before the goverenment started to feck around with everything, yeh i find it absurb that they rejected the 120 hour 3 year p plater thing and do this instead, this just shows they aint really looking to improve young drivers abilities they would pefer to just put a collar on us and get even more money from us.

WHat they should do is put a permanant ban on old people driving god they drive me nuts, they cause more accidents than us young ones do.

and so on...