Drivers reject new law

YOUNG Ferntree Gully drivers say new P-plate laws will be ineffective in reducing the road toll.
Their views have been canvassed by Ferntree Gully MP Nick Wakeling in a recent 10-question online poll of more than 100 young people in his electorate.
The poll found only 14 per cent of respondents were in favour of the new laws and just 17 per cent believed the new laws would reduce the road toll.
“Given the strong opposition to the new laws among those most affected, the Liberal Party will be closely monitoring both the fatal and serious incident statistics to determine if, in fact, these new laws have had a positive effect in reducing road trauma,” Mr Wakeling said.
The other yes/no answer questions related to specific provisions of the new laws and issues for young drivers.
The poll follows the introduction of the Graduated Licensing System (GLS) which came into effect on 1 July.
The four-year, two-stage probationary licence system replaces the previous three-year single stage licensing system.
Motorists aged under 21 will receive a P1 licence for their first year of driving, followed by a three-year P2 licence.
P1 licence holders can carry only one passenger aged between 16 and 21 and are subject to previous P-plate conditions which include a zero blood alcohol concentration and restrictions on driving high powered vehicles.
P2 drivers will be subject to similar conditions to previous P-plate requirements.
A spokeswoman for Roads Minister Tim Pallas said the GLS was aimed at lowering the number of young drivers dying in road accidents.
“While young people account for 13 per cent of drivers in Victoria, they make up over 25 per cent of all driver deaths on our roads,” she said.
“The system has been specifically designed to address the dangers young people face on the road, especially when they first receive their driver’s licence.”
She said the changes were expected to save 12 lives each year an reduce the number of car crash injuries by 800 per year.
She said the success of the new laws would be monitored.
Research shows that in the first year of driving, P-plate drivers are four times more likely to be involved in a fatal crash when carrying two or more peer-age passengers, the spokeswoman said.
“Around 26 per cent of first year probationary drivers involved in fatal crashes are carrying two or more passengers,” she said.