Learner drivers in Tasmania will face stricter requirements for a licence

Young drivers will face stricter requirements before being granted a driver’s licence, Infrastructure Minister Jeremy Rockliff said.

RACT Acting CEO Stacey Pennicott welcomed the Improvements to the Graduated Licensing System announcement and said it would hopefully lead to an improvement in road safety outcomes. Picture: NIKKI DAVIS-JONES

YOUNG drivers will face stricter requirements before being granted a driver’s licence, Infrastructure Minister Jeremy Rockliff said.

Improvements to the Graduated Licensing System will mean learner drivers gain more on-road supervised experience and drive with fewer potential distractions, Mr Rockliff said.

Among the changes:

* The current 30 recommended logbook driving hours during L1 become compulsory. This is in addition to the 50 hours required in L2;

* The introduction of 15 hours of night-time driving during L2 (part of the L2 50-hours requirement);

* A restriction to one passenger aged between 16 and 21 during the P1 period for drivers under 25;

* L2 drivers will have to pass a new online Hazard Perception Test to progress to a P1 licence; and

* A total mobile phone ban (including hands-free) for all L and P drivers will also be introduced.

“A recent review of the Graduated Licensing System in Victoria found that peer passenger restrictions for P1 drivers, resulted in a 69.2 per cent reduction in the involvement in serious casualty crashes. We want to see this replicated in Tasmania,” Mr Rockliff said.

“The Government is also committed to addressing barriers that some young people face in getting their licence, some of these challenges are well known and include access to a supervised driver, illiteracy and problems attaining identification documents such as birth certificates.”

Mr Rockliff said increased funding had been made available to boost programs enabling young people to build up their logbook hours and access a driving supervisor and vehicle.

RACT Acting CEO Stacey Pennicott welcomed the announcement and said it would hopefully lead to an improvement in road safety outcomes.

“The new graduated licensing system aims to achieve this by giving young drivers more on-road experience under appropriate supervision and in varying conditions,” she said.

“A survey last year of RACT members supported this road safety initiative.”

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TasCOSS CEO Ms Kym Goodes and YNOT CEO Ms Tania Hunt said the changes would make life harder for some young drivers — by increasing the expense of getting a licence.

In many areas, access to driver training and mentors was poor, they said.

“However evidence tells us these changes will severely impact young drivers in particular and those in areas with poor access to public transport,” they said in a joint statement.

“Only 63 per cent of young Tasmanians have a driver’s licence. We need to understand what the challenges and barriers are for the 21,000 young Tasmanians who don’t.

“Not being able to get where you need to go can impact on someone’s ability to get a job, access education or training, healthcare and other services. It also impact on their ability to access essentials like groceries.”

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