Official goverment forum link (p-plate restrictions.)

[78vbsle]

With all the controversy surrounding the topic of P-plate restrictions the NSW government has put up a website to guage the publics response.

You can have your say on the issue here.

http://www.youngdrivers.com.au/

And/or you can contact these ministers here;

Carl Scully, NSW Minister for Roads.

[email protected]

Donald Page, NSW Shadow Minister for Roads.

[email protected]

Eventhough I am 24 and these restrictions wouldn't really affect me, I feel these restrictions (power restrictions, curfews, passenger restrictions) are down right idiotic.

Inexperience (due to lack of proper training) is the cause of most of these accidents and placing restrictions on young drivers is only going to limit their oppertunities to gain much needed experience.

We need to put the focus on L-plate drivers and make sure they recieve adaquate training before being licenced. If a licenced driver can't handle a powerful car (or any car for that matter) than they shouldn't have a licence, plain & simple!

But it's not just P-platers that have to worry about these draconian restrictions,

such restrictions would set a very dangerous precadent to try and ban all modified/performance cars! There's already a bunch of car hating pinko's trying to push for this, stating that we shouldn't have such powerful cars as we are only allowed to 110km/h anyway.

So in closing I would encourage all enthusiasts to fight these restrictions and

BAN LOW PERFORMANCE DRIVERS, NOT HIGH PERFORMANCE CARS!!!

[igor]

Thanx for the heads up. This website is bound to get real hot in the next couple of months.

[78vbsle]

An interesting tid-bit of info for everyone,

after the federal Labour governments crushing defeat in the federal election and having much of that blame placed on the NSW & Victorian state Labour governments combined with the NSW state Labour governments very low approval rating, Roads minister Carl Scully isn't to keen on implimenting any pollicies that would makie him and his party even more unpopular with the voters.

So if we show him just how unpopular these restrictions would be with the voters, there is a good chance we can stop them from being implimented.

[someonestolecc]

An interesting tid-bit of info for everyone,

after the federal Labour governments crushing defeat in the federal election and having much of that blame placed on the NSW & Victorian state Labour governments combined with the NSW state Labour governments very low approval rating...

You'll find the state governments aren't actually accepting that and will worry about their own skin, not the feddies.

[78vbsle]

You'll find the state governments aren't actually accepting that and will worry about their own skin, not the feddies.

The point I was trying to make is that the NSW state labour government isn't too popular with the voters in NSW at the moment and they are very worried about making things worse by introducing pollicies that would be unpopular with the voters.

This gives us a real oppertunity to stop these curfews.

[TasR.X]

If your going to submit a response to the government make sure you think it through and be mature about it.

There's no point sending immature rubbish, that'll only give them more reason to go ahead with the laws (if you can't be responsible on the internet, what chance have you got in a car?)

*not having a go at anyone in particular, it's just I've read some rubbish on other sites and a little bit on here (but nowhere near as much)

[Nathan]

Im thinking of submitting this....

“P” plates are a scare. Not for only for the beholder, learning there that there is a whole new world out there far from your school friends & families.

As for the parents, who virtually sh!t themselves every time the phone rings and their “P” plate driver is not home. I know my parents did. And Police, although legend has it that they are against the “P” Plate driver, ask any member of the force about dreading the “four o’clock knock”.

Reality is:

Traditionally, this is Government reaction to media, the only way left to voice concern to any Politician:

Our State Government has failed “P” plate drivers.

The RTA is controlled by this government…………..

“P” plate drivers have minimal experience.

“P” plate drivers make up a large percentage of accidents resulting in fatalities.

Personally, I have reservations in the thought that “L” plates require a log book to be forged or worst case the parents actually teach their children their own bad habits. Stress and over commitment (Sydney Syndrome) should not be taken out on a vehicle. Nor passed to there siblings!

Although the media are on this concern at the moment, our “P” plate road toll has fallen by 30% since 1986, due to vehicle quality increasing. But, our state Government will take credit for this explaining that it is speed cameras and not revenue raising. Although, the road toll started to fall before hand.

I believe that this society has enough restrictions and laws as it is.

I think the key is EDUCATION.

Once again, the education system has failed. After all not many school kids go on to get their drivers license????……

As crazy as this will sound, I believe that we should reduce the age of “L” plates to 15! Christ, the education system teaches and tests them on trigonometry and sex education BEFORE the age of consent, which will save you or your child on a wet rainy night driving home! At the age of 15 you are able to obtain the right to “L” plates. You cannot drive supervised until such time as you are competent in knowing how the basics of a vehicle operates like, tyre tread requirements, brake operation, basic maintenance, washers wipers, understanding road conditions etc, how the day night mirror function works, seating positions (I’m sick of winding the drivers seat back forward in customers cars so I can see out of the windscreen) and so on.

This test should be both practical and theory by a source other than the RTA or our education system, same as the stay upright course for motorcycles which has worked.

The likes of “L’ Trent style driving schools will require more stringent driver training before being allowed to train (BTW loose the sign off the roof, I hated it and I sure most others do, “L” plates are enough). Additionals like the poor roads we have, belting into pot holes and the consequence of buckled rims & knackered tyres.

We need honesty from the government we own.

Once you pass the more stringent RTA “P” plate test at 17, you now have a licence to drive with the speed restriction and penalty points remaining the same. Restrictions come in with penalties.

Should you be busted for any traffic offence within your “P” plate time then you have the ocupant restrictions enforced.

Should you loose your license, its back to square one “L” Plates and first exam, and re-sit your “P” plates with power and passenger restrictions. That’s it, no compromise.

I suppose if you show some respect in obeying the road rules then the respect is returned in no additional power, passenger restrictions.

Kids, becoming adults are far taimer now, and I’m sick of hearing that TV, Sony etc is a concern, its not. Elvis, Beach Boys, Atari, Punk, Heavy Metal are all history.

There will always be one in every crowd that is a concern, I am personally disappointed in Mr Carr for falling into this “easy way” i.e.: banning everything like Jet Skis in the “dead of the night”, and in turn I have not seen many Jet Ski riders in front of a commission, like Bob.

Most people that enjoy motor sport and the vehicle they own or desire to own and don’t have the ability to use these vehicles as we would like. Motor sport is our nation’s third largest sport and trying to get out to the track for a belt can be a bit of a hassle or for the newbie a bit daunting. Maybe this is an area that can be addressed. WSID only happened after 4 or 5 years of constantly hassling Mr Carr????. EC Twilight sounded like an awesome idea. How about twilight motocana’s at St Ives (Honda Driver Training) centre, Richmond air base & Schofields old airdrome?

My 2 c keep the change

[Morgs]

Good on you Nathan sounds good mate.

I've just submitted a 1000 word proposal to them, outlining my personal point of view, I'd really like to be involved.

[cowie165]

There's already a bunch of car hating pinko's trying to push for this, stating that we shouldn't have such powerful cars as we are only allowed to 110km/h anyway.

So in closing I would encourage all enthusiasts to fight these restrictions and  

BAN LOW PERFORMANCE DRIVERS, NOT HIGH PERFORMANCE CARS!!!

IMO crap drivers are the reason speed limits are 110km/h. I remember when it was 120km/h. Cars have increased safety features, and have also increased their performance considerably. The lowest common denominator here is the driver.

Substandard drivers are out there. You've seen them. Now they have kids, and have 50hrs to make their kids just as substandard as they are...

Licences should require professional training IMHO. Nothing too serious/expensive, just a few hours to set the standard. Pilots, motorcyclists and heavy-vehicle drivers have to pay for proper training. If you cannot afford it, get a job within walking distance. We'd all feel a lot safer if we knew every driver we could see had been professionally trained and regularly examined by the RTA.

[/RANT]

My 2.2c

Mark

[Gus-]

being 15, about to get my l's and being a high powered car enthusiast i think i could give some input into this discussion.

if you have a look at some of the restrictions, training initiative's etc i think some of these are quite good and i deffinetly would prefer them to be in place, because statistics show we're more likely to have a crash in our first 1-3 years of driving, no matter what you say.

some people are saying that we need more driver experience , the way i look at it, by increasing the minimum time spent in a car from 50-100 hours with a supervisor is increasing the driver experience, BY 50 HOURS!!!

i also would not mind having to wait till im 18 to get my p's. i will still be allowed to drive for that extra year, and this will also increase my driver experiance.

although i may agree with this, and i believe that a driver traing program should be introduced for free for anyone at the start/end of their l's there are also things i dont think should be inforced such as night restricions or power to weight ratios. i also believe that there is already a speed limit, so maybe try to enforce that insted of introducing new laws.

thanks for ya time any feedback etc would be greatly appreciated

my 2 cents (always wanted to say that) :headspin:

[owned]

funny thing is.... they know about the need for driver education yet wont do anything about implementing strategies to fix the problem. It seems the government is more interested in implementing stop gap measures so everyones pleased for the moment rather than implementing something that will fix the problem. Oh i forgot.... that means if there arent any laws to break then there arent any fines to hand out.... oops

[owned]

IMO crap drivers are the reason speed limits are 110km/h. I remember when it was 120km/h. Cars have increased safety features, and have also increased their performance considerably. The lowest common denominator here is the driver.

Substandard drivers are out there. You've seen them. Now they have kids, and have 50hrs to make their kids just as substandard as they are...

Licences should require professional training IMHO. Nothing too serious/expensive, just a few hours to set the standard. Pilots, motorcyclists and heavy-vehicle drivers have to pay for proper training. If you cannot afford it, get a job within walking distance. We'd all feel a lot safer if we knew every driver we could see had been professionally trained and regularly examined by the RTA.

[/RANT]

My 2.2c

Mark

:werd:

[Morgs]

Our road rules are based on the lowest common denominator, that is why unless there is serious reform we will never move forward.

[Nathan]

If you build something idiot proof, Jebus or Mac Hummod will build a better idiot!

[shif_tea]

funny thing is.... they know about the need for driver education yet wont do anything about implementing strategies to fix the problem. It seems the government is more interested in implementing stop gap measures so everyones pleased for the moment rather than implementing something that will fix the problem. Oh i forgot.... that means if there arent any laws to break then there arent any fines to hand out.... oops

So true dude. Anyone remember only a couple of years ago they made us have p's for 3 years so we would be better prepared?? Has anyone asked if it has worked at all or has it just netted them thousands of dollars because of the extra tests and licenses you have to get now. They aren't even thinking about ways to stop the accidents, or if they are they aren't thinking ahard enough.