NRMA spruiks free licence offer to P-platers with clean road record in hope it will keep road toll down

THE NRMA wants young P-plater drivers with a clean road record to be rewarded with a free driver’s licence in a bid to keep the road toll down.

YOUNG P-plate drivers with a clean record should be rewarded with a free licence in a bid to lower the state’s road toll.

That is the recommendation of the NRMA in a new report released today.

The motoring organisation argues young drivers are still involved in a disproportionate number of road accidents and it is time for a review of their log book scheme.

And the State Government should also trial new technologies to measure P-plater’s driving behaviour such as braking, speeding and mobile phone use via connected technology.

A P-plate driver was taken to hospital after allegedly accelerating from an RBT before crashing and rolling the car in Sydney’s Inner West in February. Picture: Steve Tyson

NRMA chairman Tim Trumper said drivers aged 17 to 25 were over-represented in deaths and serious injuries — with crashes involving P-plate drivers making up 15 per cent of all fatalities on NSW roads, despite P-platers only accounting for eight per cent of all drivers.

“The incentives outlined by the NRMA today may help save lives,” he said.

The NRMA report, Come Home Safe, recommends a free licence for drivers who maintain a clean driving record through their P1 and P2 licence period.

NRMA director Tim Trumper said drivers aged 17 to 25 years of age were over-represented in deaths and serious injuries. Picture: Braden Fastier

The recommendation would save up to $180 off the cost of a five-year licence.

It pointed out young drivers were most at risk of casualty crashes in the six months after they obtain their probationary licence, with 1713 serious injuries involving a driver under 25 in 2016 and 100 fatalities in NSW. And it suggests the trial of “car connected technology” devices would enable a “continuous assessment” of driver behaviour, with more potential to reward good drivers.

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Mr Trumper said in Victoria, young drivers were rewarded with a free three-year licence when they complete four years on their P-plates with no traffic related offences.

A P-plate driver crashed into four parked cars on South Dowling Street, Surry Hills, in April last year. Picture: Bill Hearne

Discounts could also be offered to encourage young adults to buy newer cars with better safety ratings, as inexpensive, older model cars “can have devastating consequences’’ for young drivers.

“Research has found that a young driver’s first car is likely to be an inexpensive older model, and unlikely to be the safest car in the family,” the report states.

“This can have devastating consequences.”

It said the driver of the worst-rated vehicle is 10 times more likely to be killed or seriously injured than a driver in the safest vehicle.

Police pull over a P plater on George Street in Sydney City.

“Offering incentives to young drivers to purchase a five-star rated safe car will deliver safety benefits to the community — we know that a driver of the worst vehicle rated under the Used Car Safety Rating scheme is 10 times more likely to be killed or seriously injured than a driver in the safest vehicle,” Mr Trumper said.

The current logbook graduated driving scheme has been successful the report says, but has been in place for 20 years and was due for an independent evaluation.