P-plate drivers in Western Australia to be banned from carrying more than one passenger

The new regulations implemented by one state are among the strictest in the country and will be known as “Tom’s Law”.

New road safety measures for probationary drivers will be implemented in Western Australia in a bid to curb the disproportionate death rate of young drivers.

Under the changes, new drivers on their red P-plates will be banned from carrying more than one passenger at all times with few exceptions.

In Western Australia, drivers have their red P-plates for six months and their green P-plates for one-and-a-half years. The rules, which were announced by WA Premier Roger Cook on Sunday, will come into effect on December 1.

The new road rules will be known as “Tom’s Law”, following the deaths of 15-year-old Tom Saffioti and his 17-year-old friend Mark Bogoni. The car they were travelling in was carrying a total of five passengers and was driven by a P-plater when it smashed into a tree in Seville Grove three years ago.

Tom’s mother, Samantha, has been lobbying the government to enforce passenger restrictions and hopes lives will be saved.

Tom Saffioti, 15, lost his life in a car accident three years ago. Picture: Samantha Saffioti

“From December 1, all existing and future red P-plate drivers will be allowed to carry only one passenger in the vehicle at all times,” Mr Cook said.

“Statistics and recent tragedies on our roads show that novice drivers are at high risk of crashes and being distracted.”

Red P-plate drivers will only be allowed to carry more than one person if the additional passenger or passengers have held an ordinary C-class licence for at least four years, are immediate family members, or if the driving is work-related.

If the driving is work-related, the P-plate holder must have a letter from their employer and present it if requested.

Those who breach the restrictions will face a $200 fine and two demerit points.

An existing rule that bans P-platers from driving between midnight and 5am will continue to apply.

Samantha Saffioti with her son Tom. Picture: Samantha Saffioti

The state’s young drivers aged 17-19 have the highest rate of serious injury and death at 107 per 100,000 population compared to other age groups, according to the Western Australian Road Fatalities and Serious Injuries 2023 report.

WA is experiencing its deadliest year on the roads in almost a decade, as the road toll rises over 150.

Road Safety Minister David Michael said the WA Government has announced an extra $32.5 million over the next four years to make the state’s roads safer.

“Every life lost on our roads is one too many and the repercussions are devastating for the families and loved ones left behind,” Mr Michael said.

“Knowing many of these crashes are preventable is even more disturbing.

“The new rules mean Western Australia will have among the strictest rules for passenger limits on probationary drivers in Australia.”

The new rules aim to make it safer on the road. Picture: iStock

In comparison, NSW drivers who are under 25 and on their red Ps must not drive with more than one passenger who is under 21 between 11pm and 5am unless required for their employment or volunteer work, or if the extra passengers are family members.

There aren’t any other restrictions for carrying passengers outside of those hours.

In Queensland, red P-platers have the same restricted hours as those in NSW, however there’s an exemption for immediate family members.

Those in Victoria can’t carry more than one peer passenger aged between 16 and 22 and in Tasmania this rule applies to peer passengers aged between 16 and 21.

In the ACT, red P-plate drivers are restricted to one peer-aged passenger between 11pm and 5am who is aged between 16 and 22.

South Australia has slightly stricter rules, with P-platers not permitted to drive between 12am and 5am, and not able to drive with more than one passenger aged 16 to 20 years unless they are immediate family members.

There is no passenger capacity limit for provisional drivers in the Northern Territory.

Mr Cook said the state’s least experienced drivers are particularly vulnerable when they get behind the wheel and need to be protected.

“Limiting passengers for novice drivers in the first six months after they attain their licence is a practical, sensible and enforceable step that strikes the right balance to protect young drivers, their families and their friends,” Mr Cook said.

“The new changes, referred to as Tom’s Law, will mean WA has some of the most targeted restrictions in the country when it comes to keeping P-plate drivers safe.”