I just watched the article on 60 Minutes about applying more restrictions to P platers in australia. There aree talks to have a 10pm to 5am no driving curfew, and to not allow p-platers to have passengers that are either not on their opens or under 20.

I for one think this is bullshit, especially the passenger bit. I know that i for one work a job where sometimes i don't start or finish until midnight, and i don't expect my mother to take me to or pick me up from work. Plus the fact that i enjoy going out at night.

Just looking for points of views on the subject!

I understand what they are saying, and you P platers keep wrapping yourself around trees etc. If they dont whack on a curfew, they will give you HP/Engine size restrictions and that could be even worse. What they are aiming to do is stop a heap of young guys getting into a car and going and wrapping it round a tree at over 200 clicks. Its understandable, but in reality its them trying to stop a small minority of people screwing round and wrecking it for everybody. Not nice, but its life, and now I am on my full licence I dont care, but I am sure I was nowhere near as bad a driver as half the P platers who scream past me in high powered cars, totally beyond their driving limits.

Chris

Funny, we have some of the loosest laws about P-platers in Australia (dont have to wear the sign - although it's kinda becoming a fashion statement anyway....). New Zealand has a similar situation with the curfues and that, but the legal limit over there is 15 and they get off their P's earlier.

10pm isn't even late anyway, I guess they've picked that number anticipating a bit of bargaining with opposition... you know, like you do with your mother

But anyway, those restrictions are way too harsh, 10pm? No passengers? You cant enforce something so radical.. it's impossible to change culture in the short term like that!

Won't happen. Not any time soon, anyway.

I think the system NSW (is this right?) has is a good one. It limits P-platers to driving only certain lower-powered cars - nothing over 200 HP or something. That's a more realistic, enforceable, and probably effective proposition IMO. Why do you say it would be worse, Chris???

Well, now, MickieB,

It seems that you and I are the only voters so far.

I voted "yes".

Having attended many accident scenes and been sickened by the effects on the human body I couldn't vote otherwise.

All too often it's young people who are killed/maimed/injured. For the most part I feel it's through lack of training and experience and, in a lot of instances, bravado and "showing off".

I lost count of the number of people I trained to drive whilst in the Army, (Note that I said trained, not taught. There's a big difference) and, generally, the younger the trainee, the easier they were to train. However, having said that, the younger trainees tended to be less attentive and responsible in their obligations as a license holder.

You are upset over the possibility of a curfew. I can understand that and sympathise with you. Perhaps allowances will be made for you those in similar situations.

Hopefully, in your case, I hope so.

Rick.

BTW, I do not disagree that something should be done. Just that the "means to an end" philosophy is NOT the way to govern a state.

Wont happen, not in that form anyway.

Yet another way for the government to avoid implementing some real driver training (and yes I realise it's no easy task).

Sounds like bull $^!# to me

Kids over here get there dadys money and go buy cars like porches, and vipers and vetts.

Not one of them drives responsibly. But they have to understand that if the kids dont get out and hurt themselves or worse, then they will never learn.

I would pray nothing sirus happened to them, but its the only way.

But they have to understand that if the kids dont get out and hurt themselves or worse, then they will never learn.

....unless they were given some real training, off public roads.

Bout time they made driving a privelidge, not a right.

Personally, I would rather these kids learn their lesson without involving smashing into me or someone I know.

I think that something needs to be done about young drivers on our road. Unfortunately the government is once again going about it the wrong way. Making up curfews for P-Platers isnt going to stop them doing stupid things. In the 60 minutes article, a number of them questioned said that they would simply remove the P-Plates after hours.

The government should be spending money on training not just young people, but all people how to drive. The best thing I ever did as a driver was a defensive driving course and that taught me how to brake and control my car in an emergency if the situation was to arise.

The same goes for the TAC ads which shows Falcon/Dunnydores coming to a complete stop by locking up the brakes. Surely they should know that this is the worst way to slow a car down and that is what they should be teaching all drivers. Not making up stupid laws.

Sorry about the length/bitchiness of this message, but when it comes to the government and car/car laws, I get really pissed of.

Everyone complains about the various State governments but then they keep getting voted back in. They are a bunch of social engineers and this is just another example of that philosophy at work.

Curfew: Bad idea, young drivers need to gain experience at all hours of the day in all conditions... and for some, the car is essential for employment.

Passengers: Good idea. Some young drivers (esp. males) are more likely to be distracted or forced into risky driving by peer pressure with car load of mates.

P-Platers: Learn patience. Do your time. You are restricted for reasons largely due to the concerns that we, the community at large, have for your safety. We don't want to see you killed or permanently maimed but you are over-represented in the statistics. If you survive your P-plate years and keep your noses clean, then you will be rewarded with the freedom of choice that feel is denied to you right now.