NSW P Plater rules July 2007
February 23, 2007 by Alborz Fallah
The NSW Government has decided to stick with its knee jerk reaction restriction on P platers which will surface from July this year. However, some of these new rules are set to go live as of now. Firstly, firstyear P-plate drivers caught speeding will lose their driver’s licence for at least three months under the Government’s P-plate zero tolerance program (effective as of now).
The NSW Government has fast tracked these new restrictions sighting more than 18,000 P1 drivers who were caught speeding during the 2005-06 financial year. I find it rather humerus that the government is measuring the statistics based on financial years!
Furthermore, rules coming in from July include a scheme for all first-year red P plate (P1) drivers to be banned from all mobile phone use while behind the wheel. This includes, hands free, bluetooth headsets, or even, (and here is the stupid part), no one else in the car can use speaker phone if a P1 plate driver is behind the wheel!
Thankfully though, its not all bad, some of the logic from motoring groups has been heard by the NSW government, and they have promised a tougher driving test for learner drivers getting their P-plates, with a solid emphasis on hazard perception and driver reactions.
Much like the new QLD laws also coming into affect from July, NSW learner drivers will sit a longer and tougher test with almost twice as much time on the road required than before.
Other notable changes to the driving laws include:
- P1 drivers will only be able to carry one passenger under the age of 21 between 11pm and 5am. Exemptions will apply for P1 drivers with work commitments; those who need to carry family members; those engaged in community work like the rural fire service; older P1 drivers aged 25 years and over; and in emergency situations.
- All young drivers in NSW spend a minimum of four years on the graduated licensing system.
However, restrictions are not the only thing the NSW government has in the works for beginner drivers. The Government has directly ordered the NSW Police to conduct an enforcement campaign targeting P-plate drivers. So no longer is it a cry to say “P platers are being targeted” this is now completely true, the police are after you!
Print it: 
It’s not suprising that in typical Australian Govt style their new rules don’t involve them outlaying much of their own cash, just setting things up so that they have an excuse to squeeze a bit more out of P platers.
P platers need to be taught how to handle and control a car in emergency situations and develop a respect for speed and what can go wrong. At the moment they are experimenting with this on the road, they have no choice really.
This is just wasted breathe, we are governed by accountants and their spin doctors. P platers will continue to die and their deaths will continue to be used as a reason to buy more speed cameras and work out new ways to fine motorists.
If their passengers can’t use their mobile speaker phone then does that mean that they can’t talk to each other either? It’s kind of the same thing isn’t it. So you couldn’t say something like, “Watch out for the bus!!!!!”…smash.
Yep… just another bandade solution, abit like the restrictions on powerful vehicles, hasnt had any effect, maybe even worsened the situation as they were some of the more safer vehicles around to drive. But yeah, as long as it doest cost them a cent its ok… when something like a driver training course which would cost them isnt implemented, at the detrament to young drivers
ok people plz help me out i turned 17 in february 15ths than i got my L’s bit late i know.anyway i get my P’s in august this year and once i have them im moving back to nsw now im askin if i will be able to drive a 2.5 liter engine my friend thinks that i wont be able to drive anythin more than a 2.0 liter .is this true :( ? coz if it is than … there goes my dream car ( skyline r33 ) for a long time ..
i am going for my l-plates this year and was wondering will i still be able to go for my P’s the year after i live in NSW and after the new laws are enforced will i still only have to be on my L’s for a year or 2 like VIC
also the single passenger after 11 i believe is just going to result in more drink driving. As if friends want to go out they have to desegnate 1 driver for every 2 people that cant be drinking unless they get a taxi but not everyone lies to do that.
And i really dont think people will do this so it will just result in more drink driving or more than 1 passenger.
steane was right on. teach the young ones how to handle the car. i did an advanced driver training course with the cops many years ago and found the lessons learned very valuable in staying out of trouble. i left the cops as they didn’t pay enough to spend on the ute !!
cya
b
I hate Australian Licence laws full stop, everywhere else on the globe have much better laws than we do.
Hey everyone i just came across this site when trying to search,
i need a bit of help..
I currently have my L’s,
am i restricted to the 1 person in my car after 11 if i have a full license passenger?
thanks heaps
Hey everyone i just came across this site when trying to search,
i need a bit of help..
I currently have my L’s,
am i restricted to the 1 person in my car after 11 if i have a full license passenger?
heyy everyone um just wondering is that after 11pm rule is that still out there is it still required do people still follow it what happens if you get caught i dont think people follow it do you have to have too or not really??????
let me know cause im going for my red p’s soon and i need to know that rule urgently:S
Hi im new in australia and i was wonderin if i had a p1 license will i be allowed to drive a commercial van? I may not have time to visit this site again so pls send me a message at domino_dg26@yahoo.com pls… thanks!
This is the other thing. It is undemocratic to target specfic groups like this. I dont care if we do kill more people- its not because we’re bad and deserve harassment- its because we’re new to driving.
yes, statistically, p- platers are involved in a disproportionate number of crashes.
so are men.
if we ban men from driving, im sure the crash rate will go down! but here’s the hitch- its discriminatory, and it’s unfair. it’s also downright stupid.
and another thing… don’t you think the nsw government should punish OFFENDERS?
Hey everyone!!
I have my L’s. I got them last yr in September. I’m turning 17 this yr September. I’m moving to NSW in October so i’ll of had my L’s for a yr and i’ll be 17.. do i have to of lived in NSW for a year to get my P’s? or do i just need to have a postal address in NSW proving i live there?
Please let me know a.s.a.p
THANKS
these laws are screwed’ i got a $405 fine for an extra passanger after 11 and it was because my car ran out of fuel, stupid i know-but i am being punished because of stupidity rather than delibrately braking the rules-plus the fine is alot to pay considering i was driving safely and everything