Brake on high powered vehicles for provisional drivers

Vehicles with eight or more cylinders, turbo and supercharged vehicles, and some with modified engines will be off-limits to young provisional licence holders from mid-next year under new young driver restrictions.

Minister for Transport Paul Lucas said high powered or ‘performance’ vehicle restrictions formed one element of a range of tough new measures aimed at reducing the youth road toll.

“Young drivers are the most vulnerable on our roads. They are 2½ times more likely to be killed in a road crash than other motorists,” Mr Lucas said.

“Provisional drivers in particular are more at risk than learner drivers.

“There seems to be a fascination – particularly from young men – for driving high-powered, hotted-up cars.

“While it’s true that driving recklessly in a family four cylinder car is dangerous, the added power of some vehicles, coupled with youthful inexperience and exuberance, is a recipe for disaster.

“Research suggests that young drivers take more risks, such as deliberate speeding and reckless driving when in charge of high powered vehicles or ‘performance cars’.

“Young drivers behind the wheel of eight cylinder cars involved in crashes in Queensland from 2001 to 2005 were twice as likely to be driving with excessive speed (11.5%) when compared with young drivers in cars with less than eight cylinders (5.6%).

“Time and time again it is young drivers with limited experience who are involved in accidents behind the wheel of high powered cars, such as V8s.”

“In an effort to reduce the road toll provisional young drivers will no longer be allowed to drive these potentially lethal weapons,” he said.

For the full period of their provisional licence, under 25s who obtain their provisional licence after 1 July 2007 will be restricted from driving:

• vehicles with eight or more cylinders;
• turbocharged vehicles;
• supercharged vehicles; and
• vehicles that have an engine performance modification that requires approval from an Approved Person (person approved by Queensland Transport to inspect and certify modified vehicles).

Some vehicles will be exempt from this list, for example cars with small engine capacities that are fitted with a turbocharger.

Mr Lucas said exact criteria defining the restricted vehicles is continuing to be developed and will be legislated over the coming months before the new young driver laws come into effect on July 1 next year.

“The list is still being finalised and we will write to motoring organisation and invite public comment on what vehicles should or shouldn’t be included,” he said.

“In the meantime, future provisional drivers and their parents can use this information as a guideline for what types of cars to avoid getting as their first set of wheels.

“In many instances it's parents who buy or lend first-time drivers the car they take on the road.

“The State Government can’t sit in every passenger seat or in every lounge-room when these sorts of things are discussed. But I’d encourage parents to sit down and develop a plan for when and where young drivers use their cars and impose penalties like taking the use of the car away when those rules aren’t followed.

“I don’t subscribe to the view – particularly where parents supply cars to children – that once your child turns 18 they aren’t subject to parental interest or control.”

Mr Lucas said those who already hold a provisional licence when the new laws are introduced on July 1 next year would not be affected by the high powered vehicle restrictions.

“To be fair on those who have already got their provisional licence before the new laws are introduced, the restrictions will only apply to those under 25 who get their provisional licence after 1 July 2007,” Mr Lucas said.

For more detail on the high powered vehicle restrictions and other new rules for young drivers to be introduced mid-next year visit www.transport.qld.gov.au/youngdrivers or call Queensland Transport on 13 23 80.

Media inquiries: Robert Hoge: 3237 1942