Young drivers most at risk
Mon 03 April 2006
Adelaide Godfrey, Journalism
P Plate drivers are two and a half times more likely to die in car accidents than any other part of the driving population, member for Mundingburra and parliamentary secretary to the Minister of Transport, Lindy Nelson-Carr said.
Ms Nelson-Carr was speaking at a public forum held at the Innovation Centre, University of the Sunshine Coast, on the discussion paper published by the Queensland Government Queensland Youth on the road and in control.
In 2004, 88 young people (17 to 24-year-olds) were killed on Queensland roads, making up 28 per cent of the road toll, the Queensland Youth on the road and in control article said.
Public forums were held across the state to discuss ways to improve young driver safety.
Introducing restrictions to P Plate drivers including peer passengers, late night driving restrictions and split provisional phase P Plates were some of the many proposed changes discussed at the forums.
Julian Groneberg is a local resident and provisional licence holder who thinks curfews are "ridiculous".
“Measures need to be taken to protect young lives, but some of the methods they are trying to enforce are frustrating, restricting people’s freedom,” he said.
The discussion paper proposes that learner drivers have 120 hours of logged driving time before they apply for the provisional licence.
Queensland Youth Councillor Ashlea White said the compulsory logged driving time is unfair.
“I just think it is really unfair. Young people want to go out and this is relying on having parents that will support you all the time, will pick you up late at night or driving you for 120 hours, some parents aren’t that supportive,” she said.
The State Government has already implemented some changes. From January 31 2005 it has been mandatory for learner drivers to display L plates.
Learner drivers are now also equipped with a DVD, Never the Same Again. The DVD tells tragic stories about three young drivers.
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