Source: The Sunday Telegraph June 20, 2010 12:00AM
P-PLATERS who take advanced driving courses will qualify for their full license earlier under a police plan to reduce the road toll.
Beginner drivers will also be banned from driving powerful cars and L or P-plate drivers who get booked on the roads will have their cars fitted with alcohol interlocks or speed limiters.
Police Federation of Australia chief executive Mark Burgess said the scheme would help reduce the road toll, with unpublished figures revealing P-plate drivers were responsible for 90 per cent of fatal accidents from 2007 to 2009.
“Our membership are the people who have to drag these young bodies out of cars and go and tell mums and dads their kids have been killed,” Mr Burgess said.
“Give P-platers some encouragement to do advanced driver training in return for some credit, then you’re likely to encourage better driving. The more that do it the better.”
NSW Police traffic services data reveals red P-plate drivers were involved in 50 fatal accidents on NSW roads from 2007 to 2009. In 45 of those accidents, the P-plater was at fault.
The plan will be launched on Tuesday at the same time as federal Parliamentarians convene a new group of MPs who are “friends of police” to encourage greater support for police officers from the Parliament.
Police are asking all parties at the federal election to adopt the idea as part of their platforms.
Under the proposal the federal government would seek national consensus from state and territory governments for uniform laws for learner and provisional license holders.
Home Affairs Minister Brendan O’Connor said: “It makes sense to have consistent rules for learner and provisional drivers across the country to avoid any confusion and deliver a consistent message to new drivers.”
Among the national standards being sought by police is recognition that young drivers who take additional driving courses, deserve their full license earlier.
Senior Constable Mark Ward, a NSW highway patrol officer for the past 12 years, said having an appreciation of vehicle dynamics and the laws of physics was vital.
“It’s better to have the skills and not need them than get yourself in a position where you need the skills and you don’t have them,” he said.
