2 P Platers killed each week..

[NORTI]

Anyone watching 60 Minutes??

Teenage brains cant handle driving?? They are trying to raise the driving age to 18. (yeah I know, again!)




Licensed to Kill
Thursday, November 6, 2008
(nine images)

Reporter: Peter Overton

Producers: Glenda Gaitz and Jonathan Harley

They're so young, so full of life and behind the wheel, so deadly.

They love their cars, they think they're invincible. They're not.

Two P-plate drivers are killed every week.

No wonder parents are scared, driving a car is the most dangerous thing a teenager can do.

And science can tell us why.

It seems their brains are not fully-equipped to handle all the pressures involved.

In fact, on the test track you can see it. A 17-year-old driver is more reckless, less in control, than a 19-year-old.

So, armed with this information and high-tech cars, the experts are now devising new ways to save these precious lives.

Story Contacts:

For more information about the NSW Centre for Road Safety's trial of the Intelligent Speed Adaptation technology, visit the Roads and Traffic Authority website at:
/www.rta.nsw.gov.au/roadsafety

For more information on the Roads, Attitudes and Action Planning (RAAP) Program visit:
www.fire.qld.gov.au

For more information on Monash University Accident Research Centre (MUARC) Australia’s largest injury prevention specialist, visit:
www.monash.edu.au/muarc

Teenage driver assistance provided by:
Mind over Motor www.mindovermotor.com.au
Calder Park www.calderpark.com.au

Full transcript arrives Monday:

[ClairBear]

My brain can't handle TV, so no.

[NORTI]

So far the 2 biggest accidents they have shown have been in commodores....

[NORTI]

My brain can't handle TV, so no.

lol I dont watch much, just happened to see the ad for this.

Satellite controlled speed limited cars.

[TUF UTE]

gahhh what about little old doris who cant see cutting the p platers off on her way to the shops..... stop targetting teens

[Tam]

I think it would be a good idea for the driving age to be pushed up to 18yrs,To many young lives are being lost..

[Jesterarts]

these reports on tv's are so annoying!

Put more poles on the side of roads I say! Clean the gene pool...

Though i agree that the national driving age should be 18. There is enough immature 18yo's let alone 17 yo's.

[TUF UTE]

theres also enough immature 25, 30, 35, 40, 45, 50 year olds..... yes fresh licence ppl do stupid **** , but what about the thousands of other ppl losing there licence for driving drunk , drugged, speeding, unrego'd, on there phone, etc.....

[RichoVZ]

how would changing the age to 18 reduce it? why dont they make it so you get your p's when your 20? that way no teenagers will die on the roads in p plates, it will be people in their 20s.

if need be, just slab some more hours on your L's to give them more practice with licensed drivers. maybe you have to attend 3 driving courses, maybe test other things than just reverse park and three point turn in your p's test.

upping the age to 18 wont help

[Julie]

Only one way to stop all these p plater deaths, get rid of P plates all together then they will jsut be fully licenced driver deaths and we won't have to hear all this shyte.

[1vngal]

I don't think the age of which one can get a licence is the biggest issue. It's much to easy to pass your licence test these days. (unless they've changed it since I got my licence back nearly 4 years ago) I know I sure as hell shouldn't have passed mine! But, I did. In about 10 - 15 mins as well. There should be much stricter testing.

[minux]

The day they start explaining the importance of concentration(which is the biggest killer on the roads FOR ALL AGE groups) is the day they finally realise that people will die in cars no matter what they do. However, maybe some education in concentration etc would go a lot further than stricter licensing conditions.

There is an excellent report that was done, which has amazingly been pushed aside by Monash that backs all this up. For those who care, Hoon driving by the Laws definition is responsible for .8% of all road deaths. Whereas concetration related fatalities/accidents was the single biggest issue (some 78+%).

[mischa]

I don't think the age of which one can get a licence is the biggest issue. It's much to easy to pass your licence test these days. (unless they've changed it since I got my licence back nearly 4 years ago) I know I sure as hell shouldn't have passed mine! But, I did. In about 10 - 15 mins as well. There should be much stricter testing.

In NSW they put it up to 30min tests, a while ago tho but 10-15 mins is really short when your doing a test the 30 mins flew with me.

And yes, the test is way to easy, i got 124 out of 126? i think, all i remember is i lost 2 points for forgeting to signal out of a roundabout.

[Stretchomatic]

julie...you are the smartest person i have heard today.

keep the learner age at 16 and make it compulsory to do a driving course near the end of L-plates. then the same for p-plates as a refresher course.

by making it harder, they arent making it safer.

[VTSSDUDE]

Yep, that's really going to fix the issue. I reackon lower the age to 16. That way by the time they are 18 they are more experienced hopefully.
Raising the age to 18, this is going to make it a whole lot harder for apprentices, young people who need to drive for work. This will affect a lot things out there.
Yeah if raising the age to 18 would fix the problem yeah fair enough. It won't fix it at all.
Bring in compulsory driver advanced training before you are allowed to go for P Plates.
People need to look at the real problems not the fake ones that are going to affect too many innocent ones out there.
Geez I like the society today, let's punish everyone for a few ones that caused the problem.
What's the brain got to do with it? A 13 year old can drive a car no problems. Geez I had a paddy basher at 12- 16 years at a farm we used to live on. Used to get that thing drifting around corners, rallying etc. Come one V8 Supercar drivers start at the age of 10 years and younger.
For as long there are male drivers who think their car is faster then their mates, this problem will never go away! Cars and male's private parts they all seem to think the same thing. Mine is better then yours. How do you fix that? It's more like a hormone problem not a brain thing.
My 2 cents worth.

[Jake Sullivan]

I'm 18 - and I've had my P's for about 4 months now. I've proven it to myself and others countless of times that I am able to handle the 'pressures' of driving a vehicle. The reason these P platers are being killed is because most of them think they're Peter Brock - and look what happend to him.

This 'test' means and shows absolutely nothing to me. It all depends on the individual and what their definition of 'safe driving' is. I agree, putting a 17/18/19 year-old behind the wheel of a modified V8 or V6 (Commodore, Ford, etc.) is probably not the best idea. But what is to gain from not allowing them to drive high-performance vehicles? Nothing. They need to learn sometime; and teaching them at a much younger age is the best thing.

If you find a P plater who is responsible, aware of the dangers and wanting to drive safely - then you'll find 99.9% of the time that P plater won't ever be involved in an accident. However, if you find a P plater that likes to rally on residential streets, through backed-up traffic and enjoys thinking he's totally awesome because he knows how to use an excelerator, then you'll find 99.9% of the time he/she will end up in an accident. He won't harm himself, but he'll harm the P plater who WAS doing the right thing.

Raising the age limit isn't going to stop any road fatalities. It all depends on the individuals perception of safe driving. You have smart people; and you have stupid people. You have smart drivers; and you have smartass drivers.

[AttaBoy]

I don't think pushing up the age limit going to reduce deaths. It's more about how they get the licence in the first place.

The licensing scheme here is a crock if ****. Too easy to get a licence these days.

Better driver training is needed. They need to educate the responsibility of operating motor vehicle not just limited to driving it.

[TUF UTE]

actaully in s,a its a pain to get your licence and u get demerits for everything , its x10 eaiser to lose it than it is to get it .

[VTSSDUDE]

The reason these P platers are being killed is because most of them think they're Peter Brock - and look what happend to him.

One difference with Peter Brock, he could actually drive.

[Tam]

I'm 18 - and I've had my P's for about 4 months now. I've proven it to myself and others countless of times that I am able to handle the 'pressures' of driving a vehicle. The reason these P platers are being killed is because most of them think they're Peter Brock - and look what happend to him.

This 'test' means and shows absolutely nothing to me. It all depends on the individual and what their definition of 'safe driving' is. I agree, putting a 17/18/19 year-old behind the wheel of a modified V8 or V6 (Commodore, Ford, etc.) is probably not the best idea. But what is to gain from not allowing them to drive high-performance vehicles? Nothing. They need to learn sometime; and teaching them at a much younger age is the best thing.

If you find a P plater who is responsible, aware of the dangers and wanting to drive safely - then you'll find 99.9% of the time that P plater won't ever be involved in an accident. However, if you find a P plater that likes to rally on residential streets, through backed-up traffic and enjoys thinking he's totally awesome because he knows how to use an excelerator, then you'll find 99.9% of the time he/she will end up in an accident. He won't harm himself, but he'll harm the P plater who WAS doing the right thing.

Raising the age limit isn't going to stop any road fatalities. It all depends on the individuals perception of safe driving. You have smart people; and you have stupid people. You have smart drivers; and you have smartass drivers.

I couldn't agree with more..Responsibility is the main key issue here..But unfortunately some young drivers think they are fine and they will be right put in a situation of danger..

[minux]

There is a very easy fix to this.

Charge 5k to get a licence. Charge another 5k to get it again after losing it. Cash Payments only. Watch how many people start driving sensibly then.

[badaz]

I'm 18 - and I've had my P's for about 4 months now. I've proven it to myself and others countless of times that I am able to handle the 'pressures' of driving a vehicle. The reason these P platers are being killed is because most of them think they're Peter Brock - and look what happend to him.

This 'test' means and shows absolutely nothing to me. It all depends on the individual and what their definition of 'safe driving' is. I agree, putting a 17/18/19 year-old behind the wheel of a modified V8 or V6 (Commodore, Ford, etc.) is probably not the best idea. But what is to gain from not allowing them to drive high-performance vehicles? Nothing. They need to learn sometime; and teaching them at a much younger age is the best thing.

If you find a P plater who is responsible, aware of the dangers and wanting to drive safely - then you'll find 99.9% of the time that P plater won't ever be involved in an accident. However, if you find a P plater that likes to rally on residential streets, through backed-up traffic and enjoys thinking he's totally awesome because he knows how to use an excelerator, then you'll find 99.9% of the time he/she will end up in an accident. He won't harm himself, but he'll harm the P plater who WAS doing the right thing.

Raising the age limit isn't going to stop any road fatalities. It all depends on the individuals perception of safe driving. You have smart people; and you have stupid people. You have smart drivers; and you have smartass drivers.

Well said it's good to see a mature 18yr old.

[Grennan]

There is a very easy fix to this.

Charge 5k to get a licence. Charge another 5k to get it again after losing it. Cash Payments only. Watch how many people start driving sensibly then.

Only downfall to that is, watch the amount of busted arse cars you see on the road rise.

[AttaBoy]

There is a very easy fix to this.

Charge 5k to get a licence. Charge another 5k to get it again after losing it. Cash Payments only. Watch how many people start driving sensibly then.

Now that would be VERY interesting.... And effective.

[Lumps of cheese]

Only downfall to that is, watch the amount of busted arse cars you see on the road rise.

Follow nsw and introduce the blue slip or whatever they have, roady every 12 months isn't it?