NSW Proposed P Plate Zero Tolerance Plan
Dear God! Seems like Australian transport authorities are getting dumber and dumber. Its hard to keep myself from going on a massive rant about people in power who have no idea about the real world situation for P platers, but I will try. It seems like NSW is a P Plate "No Drive Zone". NRMA has put in a proposal to the NSW Roads Minister Eric Roozendaal suggesting that all young drivers be put on a zero demerit point system for the first year of driving.
In other words, if you got your license yesterday and you didn't indicate as you changed lanes the next day, you would lose your license for 3 months and would have to resit the test once again! The new rules would place 350,000 young drivers on a system which gives them absolutely no chance to learn from their mistakes!
NRMA says that the plan is considered an alternative to the calls for curfews and passenger restrictions - which are still mired in the complexities of exemptions. Whilst I agree that there needs to be a alternative to the new laws, this is just simply and utterly unacceptable. Other plans have suggested that all new drivers undergo psychological assessment prior to gaining a license.
However, its good to note that this new plan shows that NSW has failed to curb the "P plate road toll" with high powered car restrictions, and other draconian laws that came into effect in 2005. NSW Road minister Mr Roozendaal has confirmed he would consider the proposal.
"We have had this on the agenda for some time ... since when Eric (Roozendaal) asked me to be on the committee," We believe that in 2005 ... measures imposed on vehicles was tackling the wrong problem ... and the results speak for themselves. Restrictions don't stop the bad attitude and our research shows that attitude is the key problem as well as lack of skills.
"This would send a clear message. It was very much the thinking that risky drivers, people who misbehave, have picked up a speeding fine or the like before. This will be a proxy for an attitude assessment." NRMA President Mr Evans said.
The NRMA submission to the Young Driver Advisory Panel along with this current proposal will also call for
- an increase in highway patrols,
- a review of driver training and instructors
- a campaign to encourage young drivers to buy safer cars.
I am glad that there is going to be a review of the driver training and instructors, however more highway patrols will solve absolutely nothing. Its actually relatively humorous to note that on one hand Mr Evans is willing to admit that restrictions on cars is not the problem, whilst not willing to admit that more and more speed cameras and toughter road rule restrictions are not the solution!
What an absolute joke. This new plan, if approved by the NSW government will not help reduce the road toll one little bit, it is simply, once again, a campaign set to scare young drivers as oppose to educate them about better driving techniques. This is perhaps the worst idea that has come out of NRMA ever, it even makes the QLD governments "Enough is Enough Campaign" seem reasonable!
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