QLD New P Plater Laws July 2007 TV Commercial
11 Jun, 2007
21 Comments 
QLD transport has started a TV advertising campaign introducing the new P Plater and Learner laws which come into force next month. The first ad in the series shows a group of mates driving a Subaru Impreza WRX.
The ad points out:
- lack of experience
- too much power
- too many distractions
- racing mates
- phone calls
As possible causes for the crash. So we decided to go through and analyse each point, one by one.
Lack of experience:
This is simply the most important reason why young drivers crash. No experience in understanding their vehicle’s characteristics as well as different road conditions. Now what would be the best method to encourage young drivers to gain some extra experience? Why an advanced driving course sounds like a good plan?
Not according to QLD transport (and RACQ) which recently opposed Advanced Driver training for young drivers - apparently young drivers gain a sense of over confidence after these course - so on one hand, you are inexperienced, but when you seek this experience, you become over confident. Excellent.
Too Much Power:
The ad shows a Subaru Impreza WRX. A symmetrical all-wheel-drive 2.5-litre turbo (2.0 for earlier models) with around 169kW of power - 0-100km/hr? 5.7 seconds. Not exactly a slow car. Too much power under the bonnet usually means a performance car. QLD transport believes that inexperience coupled with too much power results in accidents. A logical assumption.
The main problem though isn’t simply power alone. QLD transport need to introduce mandatory yearly roadworthy checks. There are far too many cars without proper tyres and brakes on our roads (and these are usually driven by inexperienced drivers) - QLD Transport’s own statistics show that older cars are more likely to be involved in an accident - mostly due to lack of driver aid technology.
The WRX used in QLD transport’s example has the benefit of All-Wheel-Drive, as well as ABS with EBD - it has a four star safety rating (ANCAP) and comes equipped with brakes far superior to many day-to-day cars.
Compare this to the new 2007 Holden Barina, the type of car QLD transport would encourage new P platers to buy - 76kW 1.6-litre engine - 0-100km/hr? About a week. The car comes with no ABS - uses drum brakes on the rear wheels and has a two-star safety rating!
Which car would you put your child in?
Too many distractions:
QLD transport believes accidents are caused by young drivers distracted (or motivated) by their friends. This is true, no doubt about it. To tackle this issue, QLD transport have put passenger restrictions for new drivers (emergency situations and immediate family are exempt).
Perhaps we can help reduce driver distraction by banning high visibility roadside advertising, reducing the emphasis put on Speed so drivers can concentrate on the road as oppose to the speedo, and more importantly, educating young drivers about the real dangers.
Racing mates:
Okay, this one really gets us going. QLD transport doesn’t support car enthusiasts, yet, they are blaming street racing as a cause of accidents. Perhaps getting behind the car community and opening more race tracks at a cheaper rate as well as encouraging drivers to take their enthusiasm to the track would be a better solution?
However, why be proactive and find a long-term solution (and spend money), when you can simply blame street racing and forget the grass-root cause.
Phone Calls:
Come July, QLD P platers will no longer be allowed to talk on their phones, even using bluetooth accessories. We have no objections to this so to speak, but we do find it interesting how QLD police intend to, well - police this!
If you wear a bluetooth hands-free while driving, and you begin to sing to your favourite song, you might get in trouble. However, what if you put your accessory in your left ear? It becomes near invisible. Also given that nearly all new cars come with built-in bluetooth capability, it will be a nightmare to police.
Even more strangely, just how exactly can the police determine if one of the passengers (or the driver for that matter) was using speaker phone function on their mobile? Will they employ a set of new speaker phone detectors?
It takes roughly 10 seconds to clear your “call register” - perhaps QLD P platers should get better accustomed with their mobile phones…
In our opinion, fiddling with the stereo is far more distracting than a mobile phone, perhaps all young drivers should be forced to listen to “enough is enough” for the first year of driving?
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June 11th, 2007 at 11:23 pm
similar situation happened to me on friday night. i was in the car with my parents, uncle and aunt, uncle as designated driver, uncle has been driving for 37 years. we were all a little roudy in the back, driver was distracted and we almost had a near death expierence with an oncoming truck
damn baby boomers…….
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June 11th, 2007 at 11:33 pm
Hahaha very well written article… particularly the “Too much power” section. Highlights the stupidity of these new restrictions making it acceptible for young drivers to go around in coffin on wheels while ‘performance cars’ which unsuprisingly also have high levels of safety are banned.
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June 11th, 2007 at 11:41 pm
To be honest, i half agree with the new laws, but i think they have gone for the easy way out as oppose to finding a real and long term solution.
then again, politicians only ever think in short term…
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June 12th, 2007 at 1:46 am
I hope that the new L plate laws arent introduced in SA. I am fine with P1 and P2 as we already have those but 12 months on L plates is almost rediculous for my current situation. I mean, if I have to get driven to work, or ride to work at 5am in the morning each fortnight for another 6 months, I might as well be a dam hoon. I can’t exactly be a hoon, but I recall getting the ‘01 Verada off the line in a high 7’s to low 8’s dash in sequential mode at the lights once. Don’t ask when, who or why? But with minimal passengers it is rediculously easy, and it sur did shock my semi-bogan mate who thinks his dad’s vs bomadore is god and can keep up with the old 3.5 verada. I mean come on, it takes his piece of crap like 12 seconds in normal conditions. Funny enough, he said “it’s shit at low revs” to me, prior to me doing a dash at the lights. He was obviously referring to low end torque, even though he got that from the 3 litre engine magna review, and did not no shit, or know what low end torque was. He just exactly quoted what the reviewer stated in a ten year old revie about an old model, engine, gearboc, ect.
Dear god, I’m ranting about immoral laws, bogan mates, and old cars, and almost incriminting myself, even though the speed limit could have been to rise to 100km within 100m. Meh, I’m dammed either way.
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June 12th, 2007 at 12:58 pm
I agree Alborz, these new laws are useless.
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June 12th, 2007 at 2:01 pm
These new laws are on a completely different tangent to the issues with young drivers.
Passenger restrictions force more P-platers onto the roads. Any P-plater with half a brain who takes home their friends regardless of these new laws will be slapped with a fine, and they will be forced to drop off the passengers wherever they happen to be and let them arrange their own transport. Remember these are people deemed to be incapable of sitting in the back seat of a car.
As for performance restrictions, any car can go 100km/h, the only difference being that a Barina doesn’t have the agility and stopping power to match the speed, unlike an Impreza.
Pen lack of experience down to the government licensing procedures. 1,000 hours of log book driving is going to accomplish the same as 2 hours. P-platers don’t become independent and capable drivers until they gain their independence and drive solo. Rather than having their parents teach them, who most likely know less about road laws than their child, why doesn’t driving education begin in our education system? At our schools?
Advanced driving courses should be mandatory. It seems the government just has their fingers crossed that no P-plate driver is going to slide out in the wet, but when they do and lack the experience to correct themselves - then slam into a tree, they are going to knock it up to recklessness, speed and inexperience.
Not being allowed to use a hands-free is absurd, what next? Not being allowed to talk to passengers… after all their is only one of them now…
Possibly the smallest, yet most costly change is displaying P-plates on the outside of the vehicle. This is a situation which can be influenced by others and therefore not applicable. All it takes is for someone to steal your plates for the police to charge you with almost $200 and 2 points. For those who think P-plates aren’t stolen you are ignorant. I happen to know that my friends plates kept getting stolen which he was fined for. This is even after we used large cable ties to attach them to the number plate - the P-plate was gone, ripped off, but the cable ties remained.
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June 12th, 2007 at 2:06 pm
The fact is, politicians always deal with the short term because they are (in most cases) only in a position to do something, for a short time period. They are expected to show results and make voters happy for when they are in their given position and short term fixes mean happy voters. Happy voters means more money and they get their 15mins of fame.
It really is stupid that people can be blinded by politicians rattling off their speech on what they will do now to fix a problem (especially when there are bigger problems around).
Good to see you pointed out the fact that ‘hi-po’ cars are in most cases, safer than your average daily driver. I always felt safer in my 200sx than I did in my ‘86 Nintara, or my mum’s Holden even. Airbags, big brakes, good tyres, side intrusion bars etc all made me feel a whole lot safer.
I’ve never felt unsafe in a true performance car (I don’t speak for the old rolla’s and rx’s that have had later model engines shoehorned in), but cars like late model WRX’s, EVO’s and 350Z’s always make you feel secure.
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June 13th, 2007 at 11:22 am
have a winge people. Like where the hell does this article get off comparing a top of the line car to a base model. Look more at comparing it with the top of the line barina. It has no drum brakes, it has ABS, air bags…. Now look at the ratios of people killed in performance cars, to those that are killed in less spec’d cars….
And do i guess the majority of the people that have made posts in regards to this either are on L-plates, P-plates or don’t have a licence at all???
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June 13th, 2007 at 11:30 am
Thanks for your input Dutch, I notice you’re from the QLD government. Glad you dropped by.
A top of the line car? No actually the base model Impreza has a four star safety rating, disc brakes, ABS, EBD, AWD etc..
the top of the line barina.. still has a two star safety rating. You can watch the video if it crashing here :
http://www.caradvice.com.au/21.....en-barina/
The ratios of people killed in performance cars - what exactly do you classify as a performance car? an old 180SX with worn tyres and no brakes doesn’t make a performance car mate, this goes back to my point, that cars without proper brakes/tyres should not be on the road, performance or not.
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June 14th, 2007 at 9:35 am
I’m now 47 and have owned a WRX since june 2005. I have had one life/underwear changing moment in the car…
If it had been any lesser vehicle, I wouldn’t be here to go on about it.
A car is a car. The faster ones tend to have better brakes/handling/safety aspects. I advocate everyone who wants ANY kind of licence going through the motorcycle learner training course. After 17 years of driving, going through that course, I learned a lot. “Set up” is incredibly important (look it up). Learning to fear your preferred mode of transport, equally so.
Regardless of its category, any vehicle is capable of killing someone, be it an ‘73 corolla, a ‘99 commodore or a ‘98 WRX. When do we receive the education required to drive our cars safely? We have all this talk about new speed cameras, new regulations, new restrictions, but where is the education?
“You need to understand the car, the situation, what the car is likely to do. Here’s how…”
Hello RTA, are you interested in driver training/survival or just revenue raising?
C:\>
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June 14th, 2007 at 9:57 pm
haha, go the NA scooby :D
doesnt apply to me so i dont kare :)~
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June 18th, 2007 at 9:01 pm
Part of the problem as I hear it is that focus groups, when told about *gasp* paying for driver training, bitch and whinge about shelling out for it despite the proven fact it reduces crash and fatalities on the road. Unfortunately the lowest common denominator wins again :(
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June 21st, 2007 at 2:54 pm
I think this is full of crap. These new laws wont change nothing. all it will do is give us young drivers more time to save money for a faster car. And besides i can speed in my mums mini n kill myself. ani car can kill anione. its how u drive it. they ban a v8 but not a v6?? mate a v6 can do upto 200 km easy. The government is fukin stupid and has no idea wat they are doing.
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June 21st, 2007 at 6:33 pm
i have had my p’s for a yr now. these new laws are bull. its not just the young people with the fast cars that have crashes. you see mostly stock standered cars been showen on the news that have come off the road from speeding and yet there is a different age everytime. turbo cars and people that are into them all know to have a good type of suspension set up to handle your power. if anyone should be banned from the road its older people like granny’s and gramps. they go like 15k’s under the speed limit.
im just saying, people that have a turbo car should get use to there car before they decide to go all out.
but also with the right suspension , good tyres, knowing the roads they are on and always buy a safe car.
and why should they tell us what car we can buy?
if we got the money for it we r willing to pay for it..
its all bull
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June 26th, 2007 at 1:13 pm
They are a bunch of bullshit, first of all these laws were implemented partly for the greedy government to make an even bigger profit on fines than they already do. And secondly it has nothing to do with how good a driver you are it’s the dickheads who dragged and fucked it up for everyone who can actually drive responsibly.. i can name a few off the top of my head plus i am a guy and i’m saying to every other guy make it right stop being hoons and make us the betters drivers than girls ;) nah were equal and it should stay that way.
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June 28th, 2007 at 7:15 pm
hey dave right here (FU) i dont think you know wat you talkin about, speaking of drags? if they open up more places to go to and test there knowledge of what they’re car can do there would be far less “draging” from lights 2 lights.
im speaking from personal experence, i have very recently lost my licence because of failure 2 indercate off around about and U turn where i wasnt ament to, now i am now on these new laws and i am now forced 2 sell my car and by a berina (witch has near 2 no safty feaches compared to my car) cause it exceeds the maximum 200kw.
best reguards
Ben
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June 28th, 2007 at 10:25 pm
yeah buddy i do know what i’m talking about.. it isn’t only drags that have created these laws it’s other things. and i think it’s stupid you lost your lisence over something like that that’s fucked. sorry for that and yeah don’t be rude to me aye i’m just voicing my opinion k i’m out
davo
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June 28th, 2007 at 10:28 pm
and yeah bro sorry if that wasn’t an insult (FU) thing is you was just trying to make an emoticon ;)
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September 23rd, 2007 at 9:25 pm
This Commercial was all bunged on and was fabricated by QT just to get peoples attention, they were just actors so get over it!, nothing happened, they are alright, only special affects and actors, get over it! who ever disagrees can leave thier piece of mind at meegs_21.03@hotmail.com and we will talk about it more. Hate this fucking comercial, it sucks, nothing really happened! Over and Out!
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October 27th, 2007 at 11:40 am
i lost my liscence for picking up 2 friends, coz she had something to drink and couldnt get home from a very uncomfotable situation. when i picked them up from the party, my p plates were stolen. the cop pulled me over when we’re almost home. 2 points for driving with more than one person at 11:06 and 2 points for not displaying p’s propperly. now i have no liscence for 3 months and will not be able to drive between 11pm and 5 am for a whole year.
i think your right, about these laws only being a quick fix for a problem the police and polititions face today. its no long term solution and only harshly affect those who do the right thing. most of the crashes you see are those with stock comodors, vl’s and the like…
most cars with turbo and supercharged engines have a 5 star safety rating as a opposed to the cars the want us to drive like a barina with 1 - 1.5 star safety rating (i mean it still has drum breaks)
wat needs to happen is a large public outcry. and assistance in solving the issue!
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June 24th, 2008 at 3:49 pm
Outright, the government needs to Learn2Life. These laws essentially block the previously endorsed policies of carpooling to reduce carbon emisions and promote segregation amongst today’s drivers. Its just like L’s, and how some people get a kick out of scaring them.
Also, you get more experience and knowledge from your first week of P’s then you do with 3 months of L’s. The first day you have your P’s you have to act alone, decide by yourself, and generally everything you’re normally told to do for the previous 6 (or in this case 12) months.
Its just a revinue raiser that sacrifices the freedom of todays youth (i speak as one of them) and contradicts what our OWN GOVERNMENT is saying about the environment.
Quite simply summed up, they fail @ life.
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