THERE have been many devastating accidents on NSW roads in 2016.
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And, young people are sadly often found among the casualties – and fatalities.
NSW Police Force road toll statistics show that, despite only accounting for around 15 per cent of all drivers, younger drivers between 17 and 25 years represent more than a third of annual road fatalities.
In an attempt to make NSW roads safer for young people, their passengers, and other drivers, mobile phone use laws for Provisional drivers changed on December 1.
Muswellbrook teen Kiera Bastick is on her Provisional 2 license, also known as Green Ps.
Previously, the 18-year-old has benefited from the use of hands-free Google Maps and listening to music from her phone on long drives.
She is now no longer able to use any function of her phone unless her car is parked.
“Normally if I’m going for a long drive I like to put music on,” she said.
However, despite potential inconveniences, she said she understood the reason for change, and agreed with it, if it had had potential to make a difference to recent road toll trends.
“[I agree] 100 per cent if it’s going to make people think about what they’re doing now, and possibly going to save someone’s life,” she said.
Kiera said hearing news of fatal crashes was always sad and brought the reality of it close to home.
“It’s a wake up call most of the time,” she said.
“It could happen to you very easily.
“You might not be at fault but still it’s very sad.”
Even though the NSW road toll for this year has already surpassed the 2015 total, Kiera believes some will ignore the changes and continue to use their devices.
“I don’t really think it’s going to stop many young people to be honest,” she said.
“We have P-plater laws now and it doesn’t stop many people.
“Most green-platers think they are the world’s best drivers.”
Kiera said drinking and driving was not common among young drivers she knew, but rather that distractions while driving would be the main concern.
She said she enjoyed the freedom of being on her Ps, but noted the potential for distraction.
Kiera said she thought an increase in safe driver courses, like the Licensed to Drive program at Muswellbrook PCYC, was also a positive step forward.
“They don’t look at how great you’re driving, they look at how safe you’re driving,” she said.
From December, P2 licence holders must not use any function of a mobile phone while driving or riding, or when stationary but not parked.
Additional changes will be introduced from November 2017 are as follows.
There will be a Hazard Perception Test required for learners to progress to unsupervised driving; the Hazard Perception Test is to be removed for P1 licence holders before progressing to a P2 licence; the Driver Qualification Test is to be removed for P2 licence holders before progressing to an unrestricted licence; and, there will be an extension of the time a driver must stay on their P2 licence by 6 months each time they receive a suspension for unsafe driving behaviour.
For more information, visit http://roadsafety.transport.nsw.gov.au/stayingsafe/drivers/youngdrivers/licenceconditions.html