Report finds graduated licensing cut crash risk

VICTORIA’S Graduated Licensing System is reducing the risk of crashes for young drivers and saving lives, according to an independent review.

The report, commissioned by VicRoads, found drivers who had been through the new three-stage system are 20 per cent less likely to have a serious crash in their first two years on the road.

Drivers that have had to log a minimum of 120 hours of supervised learner driving experience and complete a two-stage probationary licence process have lower crash rates and exhibit better driving behaviours than drivers that got their licence under the old system.

The most high-risk crash group – P-Platers in their first year of driving – are 19 per cent less likely to be involved in a fatal or serious crash under graduated licensing.

For P1 licence holders, the ban on carrying more than one passenger aged 16-22 has also been highly effective – with involvement in crashes while carrying two or more peer passengers down 70 per cent.

Learner drivers are spending more time on their L plates, giving them more opportunity to get valuable practice, with 60 per cent of 18-20 year olds holding a learner permit for at least 24 months compared with 37 per cent before graduated licensing was introduced.

Overall, the evaluation found the system has been successful in improving young driver safety, but that more work was required to reduce the crash rates of older novice drivers aged 21 to 23.

More changes are coming – for example, learner drivers will have to complete 20 hours of supervised night driving instead of 10 from November 1.

Minister for Roads and Road Safety Luke Donnellan released the report this month.

“This independent evaluation shows that the Graduated Licensing System is working – saving lives and reducing the number of serious injury collisions for our youngest and most inexperienced drivers,” he said.

“While these results are a ringing endorsement for our licensing system, we still have a lot of work to do – road crashes continue to be one of the leading causes of death for young people aged 18 to 25.”

To read the report, head to vicroads.vic.gov.au.