THE SOUTH AUSTRALIAN GOVERNMENT is proposing new legislation that will restrict P1 and P2 drivers under the age of 25 from driving a vehicle with eight cylinders or more, cars with supercharged or turbocharged engines and cars with performance-enhancing modifications.
The legislation, which will be tabled in the SA State Parliament on October 13, raises the minimum time on a learner’s permit from six to 12 months and requires L-platers to accrue at least 75 hours of supervised driving time before applying for a provisional licence.
P-platers returning from a licence disqualification cannot carry passengers between midnight and 5:00am under the new laws, and drivers who fail to display their P-plates face the loss of two demerit points.
“On average 27 percent of all fatalities in SA each year are aged between 16 and 24,” South Australian Road Safety Minister Michael O’Brien said.
“There’s more than 76,000 P platers on our roads and these new drivers, particularly those aged between 16 and 20 years of age, are up to three times more likely to be involved in a serious road crash.
“There’s also increasing community concern about these young inexperienced drivers getting behind the wheel of high powered vehicles and we’re basing our approach on existing legislation in Queensland, NSW and Victoria.”
Exemptions will be granted for provisional drivers who own a high-powered vehicle before the ban comes into effect, as well as those who need to drive one for work purposes.
Drivers who only have access to a high-powered vehicle (such as one owned by their parents) are also exempted.
Exempted drivers must carry documentation of their status while driving, or else risk a $250 fine and the loss of three demerit points.
There are likely to be significant numbers and classes of vehicles exempted. How turbocharged diesel vehicles (such as the Volkswagen Golf) will be treated under the proposed legislation is unclear. Such cars could hardly be viewed as “high performance vehicles”.
What it will mean for simple modifications and enhancements such as replacement exhaust and muffler systems, and the fitting of suspension kits, is also unclear.
The legislative strategy proposed will not be an easy one to frame for the SA Government. Any proscriptive legislation dealing with modifications will likely be a nightmare of detail and of exclusions and inclusions.
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It needs to be power to weight ratio
hmmm what will we young drivers drive in 5 years time when every small car has a turbo… oh right, labour state government, doesn’t have any foresight.
VW R36 220kw 6 cyl. 0-100 in 5.6 secs. Legal. VK Commodore V8 0-100 in 8 secs Illegal.
While it all sounds good in theory, It simply doenst work. Power to weight is the only way to measure this.
Also what happens if my old car’s suspension craps itself, or the mufflers rusts out. You cant get them from the factory
(let alone the compeition ruules this breaks), so just to keep your car running you MUST get an aftermarket system which is illegal.
South Australia, way to prove you’re completely behind the rest of Australia.
There’s a list of certain vehicles that are still illegal despite not really being high performance, such as one of the Mercedes’ vehicles, which was made illegal solely because it had a supercharger while still being under 200kW. And then there are vehicles that are NA that completely dominate because they’re also ridiculously light and pass these legislations (I’m looking at you, S2000).
Of course, that doesn’t really mean that P/W isn’t always ignored; I believe all Lotus vehicles aren’t allowed for P-platers in NSW.
Man this is frustrating. I wish legislation could only be made be people who knew what they were talking about…
In South Australia, even their knee-jerk reactions are slower than everyone else’s.
Interesting…as a youngster, my 1st car was a LJ Torana S, 173 with XU1 cam, triple strombergs, twin system, GTR wheels etc. (Metallic green with a velour interior…..mmmmmm). Speedo showed 160km/h and the needle went all the way. (and that’s’not all that went all the way in there!!!).
Next was a Marina coupe, ….with the 2.6lt 6. Faster than the Torana….
Both of these were fast, but one thing in common…shit tyres, crap suspension, so they’d “let go” early to let you know what was happening.
Unlike the Sylvias, Skylines, …shit, even the Lancers of today that would show me Torana a clean set of heels.
Oh!….. and my dad would kick my arse up around my neck for a collar if I brought it home bent. Maybe that’s why I have NEVER crashed all by myself!!!!
Would you rather have an accident in a new VW R36 or a VK Commodore? lol
But seriously, must be determined by power-to-weight
I’m another one for power-to-weight. I’m a young driver. I have a 2009 Mazda2 1.5L manual petrol, and for day-to-day driving, it’s brilliant. Pick-up is good, acceleration is wonderful (due to lightweight body) it handles and accelerates very well on the highway, and it costs peanuts to run! Giving young people cars with huge V8 (or even V6 engines, for that matter) is just stupid, for a number of reasons, not least being that they’re very likely to get a little silly with all that power. Besides, I can have enough fun with my 76kW; imagine if I had 200kW to play with?!
lol what p plater under 25 can afford an r36.. unless their parents fork the cash out.
imo even an old crappy car that can manage 100/km is just as dangerous as a turbo / v8.. its all about driver education, tougher criteria for licensing, heavier penalities, no 2nd chance etc.. get done for speeding, lose your license, you’d never speed again..
Old Holden’s and to a lesser degree Fords were deadly with their brakes .The drum braked V8 cars were outright stupid .I have seen cars unable to even cross railway lines their so low.V8 motors in old chassis Holden’s is insane .Wide tyres lessen the grip and make burn outs easy .Learn to drive first in a car that stops and steers properly .Problem is no insurance because no one will dare INSURE such a monster to a young person .An older person would be wise to avoid such a foolish choice HOPEFULLY.
My sons 2005 Ford has a 4 star rating my wife’s Volvo S40 t4 has a 4 star rating both have airbags both are less than ten years old .My 740 1990 turbo has also a 4 star rating with out any air bags ,why because its built better .I am able to trust it as is on a trip to Queensland and return knowing its 100 % safe .I never trust ,my self though I work hard at being a safe driver always have .Good on the South Australian Police they after all see the carnage first hand and have made a wise call .
Does anyone know if the restrictions take place for people already on their P’s? Might sound stupid, but i have no idea about these laws.
These rules and regulations aren’t going to fix anything, now I’m not saying that nothing needs to be done, but as its been stated before, its more a kw:kg issue. However, even using that as a basis isn’t going to solve anything, there is always going to be people on the road that are going to drive excessively. On top of that, why 25? Does something magically change at that age? Because I know plenty of over 25’s who drive just as erratically as any under 25. Now while people over 25 might have a better understanding for car physics and have a good grasp of their car, they still can’t foresee road conditions or read other motorists minds and for me I would say this is the bigger issue.
I propose, rather than restrict peoples car choice (and think about it a car is generally the first or second biggest expense in a young adults life, why make them fork out the cash twice, once for a car they don’t want and then again for the car they dream of) give them more opportunity, at a better price, for them to let it out of their system in controlled condition. Sure, they have test and tune days at the drag strip and sprints at the circuit, but they are few and far between, not to mention expensive and packed. If the owners of the track can’t afford to put it on, get some sponsorship backing and make it someone like Brembo, Project Mu, AP Racing, Endless, Tein, Drumond Motor Sport, K Sport, D2 Racing, Brigstone, Toyo, Pirelli, someone involved in suspension, tyres and/or brakes. These are the last modifications young people are thinking about, but they should be the first.
Now this won’t stop street racing, but I believe it will reduce it, firstly because it will get youths off the street and onto a track and secondly because less people will be goated into racing on the street, so while their might be someone still street racing, they will find it harder to find someone to bite.
In addition, any youth reading this thinking street racing is exciting, think about this; on the street you aren’t able to drive at your limit because your always going to be thinking about the conditions of the road, other motorists, pedestrians and cops, your NEVER going to drive at your limit, so the only thing street racing is proving is who will wise up first and back down before they hit a spot of oil and loose control of their car. On the track the only thing you have to worry about is racing, perfect road conditions, no pedestrians and NO COPS, just racing. Racing on the track proves who is the better driver.
^^And Cameron, paragraph 7 reads “Exemptions will be granted for provisional drivers who own a high-powered vehicle before the ban comes into effect”
i am on my ls and r about to get my ps in December and already own a R33 skyline am i exempt from these new laws to
im 15 and have been working on my own hz ute running off an old 253. I turn 16 and get my l plates late in october. Im putting alot of work and money into doing this ute up so i can drive it on my p’s.
I maybe young but i know alot about cars and you dont have to be aged to realise that every car still goes fast enough to kill you! Some 4 cylindars will still go as fast as a v8. My mates old 4 cylindar skyline goes just as fast at top speed as a VE Omega!
This law is stupid and should be based on a power to weight. I can handle this 253 with ease.
I wont to know if the ute is in my name before the law comes in, if i will be exempt and able to drive it on my p’s when i get them.
Im not putting all this money and time into it for nothing!
I learned to drive in paddocks in a old bomb .This taught me about gravel and slipping on mud which I could not learn any other way .
After millions of Kilometres driving in snow ice and urban traffic I am still learning .Bunnings car parks scare the hell out of me .I really think an advanced driving course is a wise way to go .Be taught how to avoid slides tailgating accidents skids and such by professionals .As it is its get your licence and find out how to drive and if your lucky you will survive .GOOD LUCK Jack with the V8 just remember the guy coming towards you might be hearing voices and stoned .Treat every person as a potential accident waiting to happen .