| The following is a report from the RTA website: | | | | measures.The Graduated Licensing Scheme was |
| Young people are more mobile than at any time in | | | | introduced in July 2000 specifically to improve training |
| the past. More young people own and / or drive | | | | and licensing arrangements for new drivers. |
| motor vehicles than ever before.This has brought | | | | In November 2004, the discussion paper Improving |
| opportunities and increased freedom, but also risks. | | | | Safety for Young Drivers was released for |
| There have been huge improvements in road safety | | | | community consultation. |
| over the past 25 years.The annual road toll in NSW | | | | Recent initiatives for young drivers include the |
| has fallen from a high of 1384 in 1978 to 510 in 2004. | | | | introduction of a ban on P plate licence holders driving |
| The reduction in road deaths has occurred despite | | | | high performance vehicles and a passenger restriction |
| significant growth in population, vehicle numbers and | | | | for P1 and P2 drivers who lose their licence due to |
| kilometres travelled. | | | | disqualification for a serious driving offence. |
| Initiatives such as random breath testing and | | | | Yet young people continue to be over-represented in |
| compulsory seatbelts were break through reforms | | | | road crash statistics. |
| that resulted in dramatic reductions in road deaths | | | | There is general agreement among road safety and |
| and injuries. Other Government initiatives, safer | | | | driver licensing authorities and the broader |
| vehicles, better roads and ongoing community | | | | community, including young people themselves, that |
| education about road safety have also contributed to | | | | more needs to be done to reduce injuries and loss of |
| improvements. | | | | life among young people on our roads. |
| Young drivers have not been ignored in road safety | | | | |