Curfew for young drivers downunder?

by ozziepost 2 Replies latest social current

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  ozziepost

  An interesting 'solution' to a growing problem downunder is reported in tonight's news. See if you agree:
  

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  Curfews for young drivers condemned 22:19 AEST Wed Jul 7 2004 Imposing curfews on novice drivers was unwarranted and could place them in grave danger, youth groups warned. The idea has also been met with scepticism by the NSW Roads and Traffic Authority (RTA). The George Institute for International Health said that provisional or P-plate licence holders should be prevented from driving between midnight and 6am in a bid to reduce road accidents. The curfew should apply to all drivers in the first six months of holding a provisional licence, the institute's Professor Mark Stevenson said. Restrictions should also be placed on the number of passengers a P-plate driver could have in the car, he said. But the Youth Action and Policy Association NSW (YAPA) said more regulation of young drivers was unwarranted and dangerous. Young people would resort to hitch-hiking and walking home after work at night, which would place them in grave danger, YAPA's executive officer Kristy Delaney said. "It would be great if we could say that all young people have loving parents who'll pick them up at any time, but that's not actually what happens," she said. Better community transport programs, especially in outer-metropolitan and rural areas, should be provided instead, Ms Delaney said. The RTA said the idea had already been thoroughly investigated. Although it would re-examine the concept, the RTA raised concerns about the impact such a scheme would have on people working and studying. "We're just trying to reduce some of the risks that we know contribute to crash involvement," Prof Stevenson said. Drivers aged 17 - the minimum age for provisional drivers - were roughly four times more likely to be involved in a crash than more experienced drivers, he said. Restrictions for provisional drivers have become tougher in recent years. The minimum amount of time spent on a P-plate licence has been extended to three years and a zero alcohol limit was announced last year in NSW, which puts drivers over the legal limit if they consume cough medicine. ©AAP 2004 So, what do you think? Should there be a curfew for young drivers?
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  Max Divergent

  I'd favor banning young drivers from driving recklessly between 1200-0600... oh, umm... that's right, it's already banned.... and not just for young drivers.... not just in the wee hours either...
  
  The safety argument is hard to sustain aginst the fast food worker going home after fininishing at 1130, or the apprentice going to start work at 0600.
  
  Good for a headline to generate awareness, but that's all.
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  Gadget

  I think it would be a good idea, but there would have to be some allowance for people working early or late, perhaps having to apply for a certificate to be able to drive at those times and being prepared to produce them at the roadsise if the are stopped for driving under a p-plate during those hours?