Licence test overhaul open for comment

The Newman Government will consider the first overhaul of Queensland driving tests in more than 14 years.

Transport and Main Roads Minister Scott Emerson said eight recommendations by an expert panel to change the Q-SAFE Practical Driver test were open for public feedback.

“I’m concerned that younger drivers continue to be over represented in crash and fatality data,” Mr Emerson said.

“In the first seven month of 2012 there were 46 fatalities as a result of crashes involving young adult drivers or riders in Queensland – 10 more than last year. This was 31.1 per cent of all fatalities, while young drivers make up 14 per cent all license holders.

“The Q-SAFE test has changed very little since it was first introduced in 1998, so it’s appropriate that we look seriously at what improvements can be made.

“The recommendations include redesigning the test format, reviewing the test locations and changing driver examiner qualifications.

“The panel concluded the government should consider changes that ‘more effectively assesses whether a learner driver with a minimum 100 hours of supervised driving is competent and safe enough behind the wheel to progress to a provisional licence’.

“It’s important that Q-SAFE reflects the work done by parents and driving instructors, in addition to programs run by groups such as RACQ and Rotary to develop young drivers.”

The panel consisted of experts from the Department of Transport and Main Roads, Queensland Police Service and the Centre for Accident Research and Road Safety, Queensland with the report completed in January 2012.

There are more than 110,000 licence tests conducted each year, mostly by driving examiners employed by the Department. Around two per cent of Queensland’s licence tests are conducted by police officers.

Mr Emerson said the recommendations include changing Q-SAFE’s error-based scoring system to a competency-based scoring system.

“This change would let the examiner make sure a student could meet basic driving tasks, including identifying controls and driving at slow-speed, before entering heavy traffic at speeds of up to 80 km/hr,” he said.

For full details of the recommendations and to submit a comment visit www.tmr.qld.gov.au

Media Contact: Andrew Berkman 0429 128 637