P Platers driving 'high powered vehicles'

[Madkore Avid PP Poster! Find all posts View Profile Close Madkore]

I know this is a topic that has come up in the media a number of times in the past, but for various reasons this particular story has really affected me, some of which I will go into.

Not sure if this has made its way across to the eastern states, however have a quick read of:

http://www.abc.net.au/news/2011-12-0...762?section=wa

As a father of a 14month old myself, my wife (and sometimes me) is often out walking with the pram. Further to this, we happen to have two young boys living next door, one who is on his P plates and owns an Holden Commodore VE SS ute, the other who is on his L plates and drives a VP Holden Commodore V6. Both the boy on his P's and the L plater (who even with his Mum in the car) drive like dickheads in our street (a cul-de-sac), tearing up and down.

I can't for the life of me understand why P platers in particular are allowed to purchase or for that matter drive 'high powered vehicles'. I know this dickhead could have had this accident in any car, but I am certain being able to drive/own a WRX did not help the issue.

Now before you think I am some old timer, I am younger than 30, so I still remember when I got my licence and remember what its like to be a young bloke. Fortunately for me (and my parents I think) I have always been a 4wd man, and a diesel man at that, and never owned a 'high powered car'.

I know they will never read it, but certainly my thoughts go out to this family.

Hopefully some other PPers can tell me what the laws are for P platers in states other than WA, as well as provide their thoughts on this matter.

[MidLifeCrisis Out of control poster! Find all posts View Profile Close MidLifeCrisis]

I sympathise with the cause however its not so clear these days.

At 45 I got my license in 1983. That meant the usual cars old enough for me to get were xy 351's and GT 350's. The origoinal muscle cars even if not the elprimo versions of shakers and Monaros.

These days, farty little 4 cylinders are capable of better speeds than the muscle cars ever were and usually avchieved through chipping and cheaper methods.

The only subtle difference is one of noise and the fact the newer little buzz boxes are more likely to have brakes that still work.

Either way, a law that says nothing over x hp is permitted until the brain has matured would be in everyone's best interest.

[iantz Avid PP Poster! Find all posts View Profile Close iantz]

Personally, I don't see why they can't just speed limit these vehilces. Hell. My GPS tells me what the speed limit is on every road. Why can't a car have some kind of 'positioning system' so that the speed limit of the vehicle can be altered on country roads etc. Alternatively, just limit the speed to 80kmh all the time...

I'm young like you Madkore (31), and similarly I never behaved like an idiot when I got my license. In 15 years of driving i've had one speeding fine. No at fault accidents etc. I can't help but think some kids are just morons these days.

I keep telling my boys that they are getting an old, diesel ute for their first car. My Mrs tell's me the Ute tray is problematic because of girls, but I can weld plenty of spikes into the tray to make that area uncomfortable

[dannyboy1 Junior Member Find all posts View Profile Close dannyboy1]

They tried to introduce it into WA years ago, but due to many families only having one vehicle (and it was a v8) there was a big uproar over it, and i think if the tried to introduce it, they would of lost many voters...

in WA if you drive at 45 kph + over the limit or 155 kph you lose your license.

Another way of 'limiting' access to high powered cars for P plates would be to bring in automatic license suspension if caught for say 20 kph over the limit.

We have all been there, done that before, but i do agree high powered cars, and no driving experiece will always equal injuries/deaths.

They can limit the size capacity of motorbikes in w.a. (250cc for first year, then open after obtaining R class), why not do it for vehicles as well.

Anything is worth a try.

[timmay5.7 Advanced Member Find all posts View Profile Close timmay5.7]

Personally I drive more sensibly in my expensive v8 on my p's than I did in my $500 corona... So the system will be flawed no matter what.
As long as the idiot driver only takes himself out- then its a good way of keeping the gene pool clean.

[Case Member Find all posts View Profile Close Case]

i am a p plater in Qld and the law is
No car with 8 or more Cylnders
No turbo or supercharged cars(with the exemption of diesel)
no more than 200KW of power

while i find it annoying that i can't drive my bosses comadore (supercharged v6 caleis )i defenety support the laws

you can apply for an exemption like its a work provided car or its the only one in the family

Lerner driver can drive whatever, as it is seen as the Licensed passenger (mum or dad) driving not the student


Case

[MidLifeCrisis Out of control poster! Find all posts View Profile Close MidLifeCrisis]

WA Hoon laws are great, get caught hooning = crush the car, even if its mummies or daddies!!!!!

[KAKADAZ Avid PP Poster! Find all posts View Profile Close KAKADAZ]

Guns don't kill people, people kill people
cars don't kill people, people kill people


Unfortunately this problem will only go away when you can change the mentality of the person but when its a adolescent male this is near on impossible.

[dragonfly238 Junior Member Find all posts View Profile Close dragonfly238]

I don't believe it's mentality or vehicle power. I had a 1500cc Honda that I made fast enough to do 0 -100 in 5.8 seconds when I was young, dumb and full of... good ideas.

I think it's training.

Having been trained to drive both defensively and aggressively as part of a dodgy past, I can tell you that knowing how to do it properly, often negates the need to do it "unprofessionally". You also get to experience the sphincter-tightening that driving on the edge provides that means that you seriously don't need to do it again...

We spend so much time worrying about how our kids look over their shoulders and in mirrors and stuff that we forget that basic driving skills involve real awareness.

I think that driving programs need a serious overhaul for our kids - teach them the proper techniques. Let them practice. Give them proper guidance. Because it really doesn't matter what sequence you check each mirror... it really doesn't.

Oh yeah and here's a question that I just can't answer... The meaning of life or does the light stay on in the fridge when you close it or does a one-legged duck really swim in circles are easy to answer. But why... seriously, why do we give our kids their ticket to drive and to drink at the same time and then tell them not to?!?!?!?!

Educate them how.
Let them practice.
Let them do it before they have to deal with the (peer) pressure of drinking.

That's my rant for the week... See ya

[kav Avid PP Poster! Find all posts View Profile Close kav]

unfortunately you can't legislate against stupidity , and even if you could someone will find a way around it , or just ignore it anyway . speaking from experience .

[rags Advanced Member Find all posts View Profile Close rags]

V6 Commodore, V6 Prado not much difference in engine capacity
Being a father of 2 girls who in the last 4 years has supervised them thru the NSW RTA 120 driving hours whilst on their 'L's a system of time ,that i was happy for them to need to achieve,with the eldest just 2 months ago gaining her full unrestricted license without blemish or accident i ,feel the system over here is adequate.But with all systems you have many factors that can influence the experience gained,parents that are happy to sign and cheat on required hours,parents who probably should gain further driving experience themselves before supervising,kids who can't be told and who will be dickheads on the road.financial issues with paid proffessional lessons,the only available family car is the v6 falcondore or pradjero,we could go on.
I do have issue with the way the RTA try to regulate and restrict all people in what they drive as a result of action of others who may have come to grief,usually prompted by media pressure and probably the pedestrian council.
see attached list of restricted cars at that date
http://www.rta.nsw.gov.au/licensing/...icles_list.pdf
We went looking to buy a new car so daughter could drive and thought a VW POLO 1.4 TSI seem a great option with 5 star safety , efficent etc but no good as it is on the banned list here in NSW along with most VW s except Turbo diesels.go figure yes they rely on a turbo but only to enable it to be more efficent with necessary power out of a buzz box.
Yes a so called high power car as an example.
We have been lucky and have been able to provide the girls with cars with modern safety features and girls who want to get around safely,and i guess this may come from having knowledge of a father/grandfather who was killed driving.
Yes some 17 yr olds will be dickheads,some 40 year old on drugs will also be. I don't think statistics will ever back up the restrictions on what one drives but they will always be skewed to suit an arguement.
I will get of the soap box now, and do enjoy driving/walking around in our safe country.
Russ

[Jon Avid PP Poster! Find all posts View Profile Close Jon]

I think restricting the size of the vehicle's motor goes a small way in trying to control P platers
I believe that defensive driver training be mandatory for all drivers, especially P platers to make them aware of braking distances, avoiding accidents, etc.
Some training by licenced driving instructors is also a good idea.
With all this said and done, until they have a (hopefully minor ) accident, they do not understand the consequences of their actions when driving on the roads.
Personally, I hate driving in Sydney. So many stupid actions by others make driving very stressful. These actions are increasingly controled by speed restrictions, cameras, speed humps, etc. We will soon be driving at a maximum 10kMH with a person walking / running in front ringing a bell....

[Axewell Junior Member Find all posts View Profile Close Axewell]

in WA if you drive at 45 kph + over the limit or 155 kph you lose your license.

WOW 45 kph. That is a lot of error margin. In VIC it is only 25 kph until you are goneski.

[timmay5.7 Advanced Member Find all posts View Profile Close timmay5.7]

WOW 45 kph. That is a lot of error margin. In VIC it is only 25 kph until you are goneski.

its actually 40 over... but anyway.
Also 3 cops were busted doing more than 40 over without permission... only one has been charged, and no cars were impounded. Stupid double standards. All 3 should be sacked

[dannyboy1 Junior Member Find all posts View Profile Close dannyboy1]

its actually 40 over... but anyway.
Also 3 cops were busted doing more than 40 over without permission... only one has been charged, and no cars were impounded. Stupid double standards. All 3 should be sacked

Actually its 45 kph

ROAD TRAFFIC ACT 1974 - SECT 60
60 . Reckless driving
(1) Every person who wilfully drives a motor vehicle in a manner (which expression includes speed) that is inherently dangerous or that is, having regard to all the circumstances of the case, dangerous to the public or to any person commits an offence.

(1a) A person who drives a motor vehicle at a speed of 155 km/h or more commits an offence.

(1b) A person who drives a motor vehicle at a speed exceeding the speed limit set under this Act for that vehicle or the place where the driving occurs by 45 km/h or more commits an offence.

Link
http://www.austlii.edu.au/au/legis/w...74111/s60.html

Secondly, one officer was charged with reckless driving, and the other 2 issued infringement notices as they were between 30-40 kms over, which doe not consitute seizing a vehicle.

Link
http://www.perthnow.com.au/news/west...-1226211673117