P-platers rack up $11m in speeding fines over 12 months

P-platers clocked up a whopping $11 million in speeding fines across the state last year, with experts blaming young drivers’ bad attitudes for the spike.

P-platers clocked up a whopping $11 million in speeding fines across the state last year, almost tripling since 2018, with experts blaming young drivers’ bad attitudes for the spike.

Last financial year, 19,701 speeding fines were issued to P1 and P2 drivers in NSW, the year prior, 11,614 fines were issued to drivers on their Ps.

In 2018, the number of fines issued to P-platers was considerably lower, totalling 6,729.

Sofina Khan has labelled Gen Z as the worst drivers on our roads, after her teenage son Zakariya Rahim was killed by a speeding P-plater just days before his 18th birthday.

In the two years since her son’s death, Ms Khan said she has become fearful of P-platers and their “dangerous” driving.

“They are always in a rush,” she said. “Speeding past you in these fancy cars.

“How many more families have to suffer like mine before we see a change. How many more people have to die?”

Sofina Khan lost her son in a high-speed crash. Picture: Thomas Lisson

Zak tragically died when the Toyota Camry he was in veered off Hoxton Park Rd and hit a pole at high speed.

The 17-year-old P-plate driver — one of Zak’s mates — had been travelling at 104 km/h in a 70 zone.

“Zak was supposed to do his HSC, he was about to have his 18th birthday, and he missed out on all of it because of a selfish decision,” Ms Khan said.

“He would still be alive if speeding wasn’t involved.”

Her concerns were echoed by long-time driving trainer Ian Luff, who said some young drivers had “completely lost respect” for police and road rules.

“If they’ve lost respect for the system, then they flout for laws,” he said.

“There’s that attitude of “who cares? I can do what I want to do”.

“It really is a defiant attitude in young people that think they’re pretty special, and that jump in fines is proof of that.”

Zakariya Rahim was tragically killed in a car crash in Hoxton Park. Picture: Supplied

Child psychologist Dr Michael Carr-Gregg said “the distracted driving element is huge” among P-platers.

“The lack of experience, the crowded cars, the peer pressure – the late-night driving, not wearing a seatbelt and mobile phones and speed.

“As to why it’s got worse — social media has normalised, sanitised and glamorized driving recklessly,” he told The Sunday Telegraph.

“The other issue among young drivers is a growing disrespect for authority. This whole attitude of ‘the rules don’t apply to me’.”

Sick and tired of the dreaded visit to notify families their loved ones have died on the road, Traffic and Highway Patrol’s Acting Assistant Commissioner David Driver urged inexperienced, young drivers to stick to the speed limit.

“Not one police officer likes doing the terrible walk up and knocking on a door to pass on the message that someone’s loved one is not coming home,” he said.

“The risk of a fine or the risk of loss of points might be a motivation to comply with the law, but the biggest motivation should be that they don’t want to hurt someone and put their own life at risk,” he said.

Mr Driver said the number of P-platers caught speeding was “extremely concerning” and there was a “real disconnect” with young drivers.

“They’re inexperienced drivers, they should be sticking to the speed limit,” he said.

“Some are speeding by a very large amount, so that is a major, major concern.

“I think there’s a genuine disconnect, or a lack of appreciation, between the actions that they take, and then the consequences that flow from the breaking of the laws.”

A 22-year-old P-plater was detected travelling 63km/h over the speed limit in Guildford on September 16. Picture: NSW Police

An 18-year-old Provisional 1 driver was allegedly caught speeding at 110km/h in a 60km/h speed zone. Picture: NSW Police

Last month alone, several P-platers were busted speeding well over the limit, with one young driver caught driving at a shocking speed of 162 km in an 80km zone.

Police from Burwood Highway Patrol were conducting stationary speed enforcement along Homebush Bay Dr in Rhodes on September 22, when a P2 driver in a three-piece suit was allegedly caught more than doubling the speed limit. He was charged with exceeding the speed limit by more than 45km/h and his licence immediately suspended.

Four days earlier, a 19-year-old P-plater was caught speeding 83 km over the limit in Bringelly. Police allege that as the teen approached an intersection, he failed to negotiate the turn and impacted heavily with the traffic island, causing the front tyre to blow.

Police charged a disqualified a P-plate driver following alleged speeding offences in Bringelly. Photo: NSW Police

Police allege he continued to drive down the dead-end street with his lights off, but was caught by highway patrol officers, who discovered his licence was suspended.

His licence was again suspended by police and he was charged with a number of offences including driving in a manner/speed dangerous to the public.

According to statistics from Revenue NSW, more than 900 speeding fines were issued to P-platers caught speeding at more than 45km over the speed limit. Fines in this category alone totalled more than $2.5 million.

Transport for NSW Deputy Secretary of Safety Sally Webb said the increase in speeding fines for P-platers highlighted “ongoing risky behaviour”.

“We need them to get the message loud and clear: Your choices on the road not only put your life at risk but also endanger friends, loved ones and other drivers,” she said.

“We urge you to take your responsibilities seriously and drive safely.”

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