Thread: P plates no high-powered cars

I am a grown man about to start crying, no I am actually crying (genuine).
This nanny government of ours now has me seriously wondering if Australia is a country I wish to live in. (And my forefathers came out on the "Buffalo" first settlers ship to arrive in SA)
I have given into draconian gun laws that have impacted my life.
I have given into draconian knife laws that effect my daily life.
I have given into draconian land title laws that are currently effecting me significantly.
Now I wake up this morning and find out that my daughter soon to get her learners permit in SA will not be able to learn to drive in my Manual V8 Land Rover D1 but she can learn in any number of faster cars?

I am already looking at how one can get an exemption but I am hitting the brick wall of bureaucracy.

Can someone please give me any reason to smile today

Stooge stats show that the carnage has decreased since the 60/70s and all the pollies are doing is trying to look good without actually spending any money or taking any real action on road safety.
In NSW they finally got it right with the bikes in doing power to weight but they transfered the original beauracrat out to make the new policy on cars which meant a P plater cannot legally drive a merc c200 as it has a blower(and puts out all of 135kw) but the same P plater can hop behind the wheel of a LOTUS elise(or any 200kw falcodoore) as thats a nat. aspirtated vehicle!!!
What they really need to do is spend some money and set a training course that actually teaches kids how to drive along with power/weight restrictions. Make it compulsory for all new license's and you will instantly cut the road toll among 18-20yr olds as well as among other new drivers.

The problem is the confidence of youth and the belief of young drivers in their own invulnerability.

Given that cars have become quite powerful compared with the things I and my contemporaries learned to drive on, they have also got vastly improved steering, handling, tyres, and brakes. Perhaps we had to pay close attention to our driving because of the poor by today's standards vehicles.

The road toll has actually lowered dramatically as a percentage of population or distance driven since the horrific peak in the early sixties. Traffic authorities then were actually considering a ban on new motor cycles because of the number of motor cycle accidents involving deaths and serious injuries.

The road toll could be lowered significantly again by applying a serious driving test and retesting say every ten years. I believe as many as two-thirds of todays drivers would be unable to pass and thus road toll and traffic congestion problems would be solved. no need for new freeways, bridges, parking lots, etc. A considerable saving.

Implementation of this would require a politician of considerable courage, and such implementation would almost certainly change a government at the next election.

Originally Posted by brianwood

I'm amazed at how unaware most learner drivers are on the road. They seldom turn their heads or check their mirrors. And these kids are on the road! Obviously education in defensive driving is so important - before they get behind the wheel.
There have been some changes in Tassie here with a 2 stage learner system. Many are failing the 'L2' practical driving test because they won't turn their heads, check their mirrors etc.
Really, though, they shouldn't be on the road until they are trained to drive defensively...

That would be the halfwit sitting beside the learner that is the problem, teaching them all the bad driving habits they have learnt/done over however many years they have been driving

How mant ***** out there driving on the road have never improved the way they drive since getting their licence, at a guess not many

You only have to watch how people merge into traffic to see that

Baz.

We have had P plate laws like that for a while now
It does no good what so ever

So they cant drive a 1967 V8 Falcon
But they can drive a V6 Commodore witch is faster
They cant drive a Turbo charged Charade
But they can drive an XR6 witch again is faster

If they want to make a law that will actually work try making a law P platers can only drive 2 seat cars 4 cylinder
Like a capri or an Exa

they Cant fit all there mates
Its easy to fix
cheap and not fast

G'day Folks

Yep! I remember when they brought in the 250cc rule in NSW years ago, I was riding a 500 BMW and there were kids blowing off 750 Nortons and Honda 4's on 250cc 2stroke rice burners the frame flex on them was unreal, the same as high performance ricers now,our daughter could not drive a V8 here in Qld when she first got her license so she went and bought a new Kia Rio,the body flex in that and the ride quality was just a little unsettling at 110kph, I know that quality cars handle better, but young people have a limited budget so it is up to authorities to bring the required standard of driver education up to an acceptable level, it would be well worthwhile for the national powers to be to STUDY CLOSELY the german learner driver requirements, including the need to be able to change a tyre, and have first aid certificate, you could train a chimp to pass a Qld drivers test, drive around for 15 minutes 3min up a straight highway at 110kph pass a written test with a choice of answers which you have memorised and Wah-Laa you have a "P" license, just keep under the radar or not have a prang and you have a full license,you don't have to learn anything, just blunder along, an advanced driving test should be mandatory after 2 years of "P's"

Power to Weight ratio would be too much like common sense for policy makers to grasp.

rant over

cheers

Another consideration is the relative safety of newer cars. If a young driver is more vulnerable on the roads, then really the car they drive should be more protective.
Younger drivers are often driving around older, less safe cars. They simply can't afford anything else.
Could something be done, say at a government level, to assist young people to buy cars say less than 10 years old and that satisfy certain safety criteria?
I think I might be on to something here...

Originally Posted by steve_35

We have had P plate laws like that for a while now
It does no good what so ever

So they cant drive a 1967 V8 Falcon
But they can drive a V6 Commodore witch is faster
They cant drive a Turbo charged Charade
But they can drive an XR6 witch again is faster

I agree in your state my 101 would be a no no as it is V8 - top speed 110kph, 0-100 (5 minutes) - what a joke.

Garry