P-Plater Vehicle Classification Criteria In Queensland Flawed: RACQ

p-plater
Dec 10, 2009
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YOUNG DRIVERS ON Provisional licences are being prevented from driving a range of safe cars because of unfair vehicle classification criteria, Queensland insurer RACQ says.

Current laws in Queensland prohibit P-platers under the age of 25 from driving certain types of vehicles, including those with eight-cylinder, turbo- or super-charged, or modified engines.

The RACQ believes existing methods for establishing a vehicle's suitability, which it says fails to consider a vehicle's actual performance capabilities and safety features, are flawed.

 

“While strongly supportive of Queensland’s graduated licensing system overall, we have reservations about the system currently used to determine which vehicles a new driver is allowed to operate,” RACQ Vehicle Technologies Manager, Steve Spalding said.

“In many cases vehicles deemed to be high powered actually have lower power outputs and offer less performance than similar models that a young licence-holder is allowed to drive.”

 

Mr Spalding said the Queensland Department of Transport's current system has "significant anomalies" that have resulted in P-platers being unable to drive cars with exceptional safety levels because of their turbo-charged engines.

 

“The selection process appears to be based on a perception of the vehicle’s risk rather than any objective measure of its actual risk,” Mr Spalding said.

“Increasingly, car makers are using turbo and super-chargers to achieve better fuel efficiency and lower carbon emissions rather than to create a high-performance vehicle.”

 

Mr Spalding pointed to Volkswagen’s new petrol-powered Golf range, Saab’s petrol powered 9-3, Toyota’s RAV4 (V6) and Kluger as vehicles with relatively modest power-to-weight ratios and high levels of standard safety equipment that P-platers were currently banned from driving.

 

“These are the sorts of cars typically owned by ‘Mums and Dads’ and are common family vehicles,” Mr Spalding said.

“Clearly, these couldn’t be considered performance vehicles, yet they are currently off-limits to young drivers on P-platers.

 

Mr Spalding said a more accurate means of assessing the risk posed by a particular vehicle would be to consider its power-to-weight ratio and its safety credentials.

Similar methods for classifying vehicles suitable for P-platers are used in other states such as Victoria and NSW.

The South Australian Government is reviewing legislation that could see the introduction of similar laws, banning 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.

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Comments

  • insomniak [reply]
    3 months ago 0 points
    The government should just ban everything... With the amount of things being legislated, removed and controlled, its bound to happen eventually in this ridiculous country.
  • Martin [reply]
    3 months ago 0 points
    This is what I've been saying all along. The limits on cars are ridiculous. There should be a power to weight limit and nothing more.
  • Eurothusiast [reply]
    3 months ago 0 points
    At the way they're going, insomniak, yeah, they may as well ban P-platers and under 25s from driving at all! NSW was the first to introduce such laws and now there's almost no ways to really enjoy yourself without being pinned down.

    I'm surprised there's much of an automotive community in QLD and VIC still.
  • Tyler [reply]
    3 months ago 0 points
    Here in Vic the high-powered restriction applies to all P-platers regardless of age. I am a 29 year old P plater and are banned from driving them but to be honest I don't find it a problem I own a Hyundai Getz and never really have a need to drive a high powered car. We tend to just accept the law here and get on with it that said you do see a lot of P platers driving cars they shouldn't be.
  • Matt [reply]
    3 months ago 0 points
    @ Tyler
    You seemed to have missed the point of the article. Would you call a Golf diesel with 77kW & 250Nm a high powered car? No, but P platers can't drive one because it has a turbo... yet they can drive a Falcon with 195kW & 391Nm
  • Mick [reply]
    3 months ago 0 points
    Quote "We tend to just accept the law here and get on with it " End Quote.

    That seems to be the attitude Aus wide.
    Should someone form a Drivers political party.
    Trouble is you would need lots, all at State level.
  • Martin [reply]
    3 months ago 0 points
    I have the best example of why this is all such a joke, Smart ForTwo. 0.7L I3, but its turbo charged and thus underivable.
  • slugga [reply]
    3 months ago 0 points
    My favourite thing about the Golf example. My wife is a P-plater. We were looking at Golfs. She can't drive the GTI - fair enough, if irritating. But she couldn't drive the TSIs either, which have way less power than the car we eventually bought.

    Oh, but she could drive one Golf - the V6-powered rocket-sled R32. Does anyone see the problem here?

    NB Diesel cars are excluded from the no turbo rule. We have a turbodiesel 1-series and she could theoretically drive the twin-turbo 123d. Again, go figure...
  • Peter B [reply]
    3 months ago 0 points
    Another example of a government department totally missing the point by showing absolutely no understanding or reason on a vitally important matter.... Why do they persist in implementing laws without consulting people who could give them correct advice?? We in the motoring industry are frustrated by this rediculous ruling because we understand the fundamental flaws in the reasoning and in saying that how many other industries that we are not familiar with are having it happen to them as well..?
  • Simon Holmick [reply]
    3 months ago 0 points
    The exceedingly poorly thought out policy on P-plater vehicle classifications is an excellent example of the pathetic approach to road safety that government across the country have. Focus in the wrong areas while the important factors go unaddressed.
  • Peter B [reply]
    3 months ago 0 points
    Oh ! and i wonder how big the fine $$$ will be for driving a 5 star Volvo,Saab,BMW or Audi turbo over a 2 star "non turbo" .
    car ????? .Hang on, shame on me, it's got nothing to do with revenue.......yea right!!!!!!
  • Dave [reply]
    3 months ago 0 points
    I dont see a problem, all P platers - buy Australian *support australian jobs) - Everyone should a local big sedan at least once in their life. The VR commodore is getting cheaper these days and they they on of the first ion the Market to come avaialable with an airbag.
  • Phil C. [reply]
    3 months ago 0 points
    Just introduce power to weight AND torque to weight restrictions. Allowing 100kg for drive and fuel. Use 125kW/Tonne and 250Nm/Tonne as benchmarks.

    If it fails both, then no-go. If it fails one, then if it's a 5 star rated vehicle. Okay. If it's too old to be rated on safety. Too bad.

    Here is another option. Make them do a driver training course which is noted on their driver licence.
  • Peter B [reply]
    3 months ago 0 points
    Hey Phil C , thats makes too much sense... i guess neither of us will ever end up in parliment LOL !!
  • Adam [reply]
    3 months ago 0 points
    I agree with Phil C - the only reason people continue to die on our roads AND this argument continues is purely because of the government's incompetence on the issue of road safety and on their prioritisation of revenue above safety.

    When will the government finally get it!! makes me sick.
  • Mark B [reply]
    3 months ago 0 points
    Having worked in emergency services for many years i have witnessed far too many fatalties in the under 25 group. Banning young people from driving turbo or high powered vehicles will NOT stop the majority of young people from dieing or killing others. It will however save some lives. Any life saved is worth while. It is also my experiance that a percentage of young people that who do a defensive or advanced driving course use the knowledge and confidance gained to drive faster and with less caution. Save the speed for the race track. Not the streets.
  • slugga [reply]
    3 months ago 0 points
    You are right, Mark B BUT the problem is it's a blanket ban rather than actually examining the facts. A turbocharged Golf TSI 77 is no road rocket, it's a small capacity engine with a turbo to stop it from being ripped off by electric wheelchairs. The R32 is not P-plater car yet it is allowed. The problem is the selection criteria and lack thereof as these rules deny people 5-star cars that just aren't that fast. I see your point, but you have to read the argument because you'll find that almost everyone here already agrees with you.
  • ricki and shelly [reply]
    2 months ago 0 points
    my son could drive our kluger on L-plates,but can't drive it on p-plates even with us in the car.yet our friend can drive a XR6 ford and they just got their p-plates.government should re-think the laws
  • The_Truth [reply]
    6 days ago 0 points
    Maybe you should look at more important things than trying to stop the inevitable. Coming from someone who got their P's the day they could get them you aren't going to stop what happens only make it more prolonged. Taking the safe drivers course true, it does only make you more dangerous behind the wheel plus give you the confidence to do more than you would normally feel comfortable doing. But one day not too long from now, V8's will be in my reach and with more money, no experience with them and more points to waste it seems the streets will be less safe than having no P-plate laws to start with.

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