P platers - new restrictions

[Colette]

Some of you have probably seen this already, but thought I'd post it anyway.

About bloody time!!

http://www.smh.com.au/news/National/NRMA-slams-Pplate-restrictions/2005/06/07/1117910274905.html

[Zombie]

I get asked to register on that link

[Colette]

It's free to register, but here you go:

NRMA slams P-plate restrictions

The NRMA has criticised a Government plan to ban young P-platers from driving high-powered cars.

NSW Roads Minister Michael Costa this morning announced changes for provisional drivers, with a particular focus on younger drivers.

P1 and P2 drivers will be banned from driving cars of eight or more cylinders, or vehicles with souped up engines.

The ban on V8 cars "meant that many family cars would now be off-limits to P platers, making life harder for young students, young parents and workers who only have access to one car", the NRMA said in a statement.

Some older V8 cars "are less powerful than modern cars with six cylinder engines", NRMA chief Tony Stuart said. "Some V8 family cars and four-wheel-drives also have greater safety features than smaller cars."

Country motorists would be "disenfranchised" by the decision to ban all new P platers except workers from driving a V8 car, NRMA director Graham Blight added.

"Everyone who lives and works in country NSW knows that bush roads are worse than city roads and that thousands of rural families have V8 cars," Mr Blight said.

"We need stronger cars for farm work and many property roads are nothing more than dirt tracks. It's impractical and unfair to ban P platers from driving V8s when they are required to help out on the family property."

However, the NRMA backed other changes announced by Mr Costa.

P-platers who have their licence disqualified will be limited to carrying one passenger for the first 12 months after the licence is reinstated.

The changes were designed to address the "optimism bias" of young drivers, Mr Costa said.

"We need to change attitudes, we need young drivers, novice drivers particularly, to understand that they do have what the experts call an optimism bias," he told ABC radio.

"They believe they can conquer the world with their new licence but that's not the case in terms of the skills they have."

The NRMA supported restrictions on turbo and super turbo-charged vehicles and exemptions for P platers using a company car and self-employed workers, Mr Stuart said.

"Minister Costa's decision not to introduce a blanket ban on powerful cars in regional areas is promising. NRMA hopes that the Government will be flexible in its definition of rural areas and in its application of an exemption for workers."

Sixteen to 20-year-olds accounted for 7 per cent of all drivers, but were involved in 17 per cent of fatalities, Mr Costa said.

A 17-year-old P1 licence-holder was four times more likely than the average driver to be involved in a fatal crash.

Greater training, demerit point incentives and disincentives, and standardisation of plate positioning would also be looked at as part of the plan, Mr Costa said.

Today's changes come into effect in mid-July.

Mr Costa said other measures, including tougher driver training requirements, were expected to go before state cabinet later this year.

[red_dave]

My HSV is vated at 185kw... Good for 10 years ago but now the Ford and Holden 6cyl engines are coming out with that sort of power...

[icebreaker]

The ban on V8 cars "meant that many family cars would now be off-limits to P platers, making life harder for young students, young parents and workers who only have access to one car", the NRMA said in a statement

Yeah.. cause every struggling student with a brain would be driving a V8..

They guzzle like a mofo and fuel is over $1 a litre..

[photomike666]

Don't most of the hoons drive 4cyl models such as Impreza Wrx and Skyline - so banning V8s isn't the way to go - it should be based on a power to weight ratio, then manufactures will have to follow bikes and product learner legal motors - make em all drive a 1L straight four - that'll slow the little farkers down - now where's that 1L straight four ZX10R

[samhasa636]

Don't most of the hoons drive 4cyl models such as Impreza Wrx and Skyline - so banning V8s isn't the way to go - it should be based on a power to weight ratio, then manufactures will have to follow bikes and product learner legal motors - make em all drive a 1L straight four - that'll slow the little farkers down - now where's that 1L straight four ZX10R

And the thing that got this into gear was the kids in skylines killing themselves every weekend... so why is this about V8s?
I don't know much about cars, but isn't an HSV V8 more than a grey import Skyline? With a similar amount of fire power for Sydny's tight, winding roads?

Go you pollies!

[Steve_TLS]

Vic already has power to weight restrictions for P platers. You can get an exemption to drive a prohibited vehicle if that's the only car the family owns.

http://www.vicroads.vic.gov.au/vrne/vrn ... rmation%5D

Summary...

High powered vehicles
While you can drive most vehicles, you are not permitted to drive a high powered vehicle. These are vehicles which have a power to weight ratio greater than 125 kilowatts per tonne or with a capacity to weight ratio of more than 3.5 litres per tonne. A list of cars which may not be driven is available from VicRoads Customer Service Centres or you can view the restricted vehicle guide.

You may drive a high powered vehcile if your employer requires you to drive it in the course of your
employment, or if you hold an exemption issued by VicRoads. VicRoads will only grant an exemption if:

* is the only car owned by your family

[Neka79]

yup, its a positive move, buit it should include turbo's ,superchargers too... power to weight type deal, unless they r occampanied by a instructor..

[Aussie Ninja]

The NRMA supported restrictions on turbo and super turbo-charged vehicles and exemptions for P platers using a company car and self-employed workers, Mr Stuart said.

[ozx6r]

i heard that turbo and supercharged cars were included

[Barrabob]

Should limit them to nothing faster than a 78 corolla but can have 2 doors or maybe a datsun sunny. then when they confiscate their wrx down at beriut by the bay they can automatically put them on a p plate.

I am thinking cruel thoughts.

Hangon that costa is the vic minister for transport oh well it would work all the same.

[Neka79]

shows how much attn i pay huh??
they really shoukld limit wot p platers drive...maybe stop em from driving turbo's,supercharged,and v8's ??

[krusty]

Bring in a LAM list for cars! If its good enough for riders its good enough for cagers.

[Felix]

Bring in a LAM list for cars! If its good enough for riders its good enough for cagers.

That's not actually a fairly decent idea...

I would actually like to see 16 year olds being able to ride 50cc scooters. For one, that is about a year earlier than you'd be able to get a car, and the average 16 year old could probably afford a scooter these days. They'd learn road rules, be more mobile, but importantly they'd get to experience what it is like to be vulnerable. Might help adjust some attitudes...