Ways to Stop Young Driver Deaths

Introductory Comments from DSA

Parents and education are two of the best ways to fight the war on young driver deaths, states NRMA Motoring and Services, and on this, Drive and Stay Alive agrees wholeheartedly with the NRMA. But in today's press release they also state that the "NRMA has recommended the Government abandon four proposals, including night-time restrictions and the proposal to raise the minimum age for a P licence from 17 to 18 years."

On these aspects DSA must differ with the NRMA.

In particular, at Drive and Stay Alive, we are concerned about the following statement: “Limiting P platers to carrying one passenger would increase the number of young drivers on the road and flies in the face of designated driver programs.”

The fact is that carrying just one young passenger has been shown to increase the dangers of distraction for young, inexperienced drivers but when the number of young passengers increases to two, and then to three or more, the dangers increase tremendously. And if those passengers are inebriated and therefore more likely to create noisy and boisterous distractions for the driver, common sense alone dictates that the dangers from that cause will be even greater.

In our opinion, therefore, it is unfair and somewhat misleading to claim that passenger limitations "[fly] in the face of designated driver programs." The situation is infinitely more complex than that, yet the simple fact remains that education and enforcement simply must make drinking and driving progressively more unacceptable in modern society, whatever the country. (And on this aspect, Scandinavia appears to lead the way.)

As we always strive to show both sides of various debates, however, you may view the NRMA's full press release, below.

Eddie Wren, Executive Director, Drive and Stay Alive, Inc.

NRMA CEO, Mr Tony Stuart, today released NRMA’s submission to the NSW Government’s options paper on improving young driver safety.

NRMA’s review of international measures has found overseas experience does not conclusively support the introduction of blanket night-time, passenger or vehicle restrictions in Australian conditions.

“Any measures introduced by the Government must balance the safety and freedom of young people and be fair, practical and enforceable,” Mr Stuart said.

Blanket restrictions may also increase the exposure of novice drivers and could make it harder for young people to access job, family, social and religious commitments.

NRMA has thrown its weight behind many of the Government’s 11 proposals, including:

NRMA’s community survey of more than 6,600 people aged between 15 and 70 has found extremely high support for the Government’s driver education and training proposals.

“Almost 90 per cent of the community want new driver education programs in high schools and intensive driver training courses for new drivers,” Mr Stuart said.

The survey also found that 83 per cent want the Government to more actively encourage parents and carers to spend more time training their children behind the wheel.

“We believe that mums and dads are the key trainers of young drivers and need more information and support,” Mr Stuart said.

“Parents have the most to gain by teaching their teenagers how to drive and the most to lose when their kids are killed in crashes.”

NRMA has recommended the Government abandon four proposals, including night-time restrictions and the proposal to raise the minimum age for a P licence from 17 to 18 years.

“Many 18 year-olds are already working or studying and the opportunity for parental supervision of driving is lost,” Mr Stuart said.

NRMA has serious reservations about passenger limits for red P platers under 26 years or vehicle restrictions for all P platers under 26.

“Limiting P platers to carrying one passenger would increase the number of young drivers on the road and flies in the face of designated driver programs,” Mr Stuart said.

“Our road safety experts believe that this could lead to an increase in fatalities by placing more young drivers on our roads.

“If the Government proceeds with passenger restrictions it should first undertake a fully evaluated 12-month trial.”

Mr Stuart said wide-ranging vehicle restrictions would be unfair, impractical and difficult to enforce and would discriminate against workers and people living in regional NSW.

“Many people in the community are not aware that powerful vehicles often have more safety features and that many popular family cars would be excluded by a wide-ranging restriction,” Mr Stuart said.

“Our experts believe that any plans to proceed with vehicle restrictions should be limited to turbo or super turbo charged vehicles only.”

Since the introduction of the graduated licensing scheme in 1999, NRMA has distributed more than 50,000 copies of its “Getting There” guide to help parents meet their responsibilities as the principal driving teachers of young people.

“Many people feel the Government could provide more support to help parents negotiate the scheme and this was reflected in our discussions with the community.”