Learner drivers in WA required to do more training and spend extra year on P-plates in tough safety overhaul

Learner drivers will need to do 30 additional hours of supervised training and spend an extra year on P-plates once they get their licence under a major overhaul of WA road laws. The West Australian can reveal the minimum learner period for new motorists will be increased from six to 12 months, while the amount of training has also been hiked up from 50 to 80 hours, including 10-hours behind the wheel at night. Under the Cook Government’s changes — set to be rolled out by the end of next year — the provisional period will be also be increased from two to three years. It will also become illegal for teachers or supervisors to have any alcohol in their system at all while giving lessons, with current laws requiring them to have a Blood Alcohol Concentration level under 0.05 per cent. Learners and P-platers will also only be able to receive or make calls via an in-car system, meaning they can no longer touch their phones at all even if it is in a mounting attached to their vehicle. An online theory and hazard perception test is also being developed in addition to the in-centre assessment. It follows a public consultation period which attracted 7700 responses, as well as discussions with driver industry and road safety stakeholders. The changes have been welcomed by Samantha Saffioti, who has been advocating for change ever since her 15-year-old son Tom was tragically killed in 2021 when the car in which he was a passenger slammed into a tree. “Our family live with the pain of losing Tom every single day and if these changes help spare even one family from this kind of heartbreak, then they are the right steps forward,” Ms Saffioti said. Eighty three young West Australians, aged 17-25 have died in car crashes since 2021. For the same age group, 28 people have died in motorcycle fatalities. Road Safety minister Reece Whitby said the new graduated licensing system was a “key step in reducing risk for young and inexperienced drivers”. Minister assisting the Transport Minister Jessica Stojkovski said the overhaul would give “new drivers the time, experience and skills they need to stay safe on our roads”. “We’ve listened to the community and safety is at the heart of these reforms that will lift the standard of driver training and better protect our young and new drivers before they are on the road on their own,” she said. “We are also beginning consultation on proposed changes to the motorcycle graduated licensing system and I encourage everyone to have their say on how WA can improve the preparation of our learner and novice motorcycle riders.” The government has also flagged changes to the way West Australians get their motorcycle licence, with the public to be consulted on those proposals next month. Proposed reforms include raising the minimum age to obtain a learner motorcycle licence from 16 to 18 years and increasing the provisional period from two years to three years. Other motorcycle changes being proposed include pillion passenger restrictions for learner, P1 and P2 riders, introducing late night riding restrictions during the learner phase and introducing mandatory pre-learner and pre-provisional training and assessment during the learner rider phase and prior to granting a motorcycle rider’s licence. Mobile phone use for learner and pro and provisional riders will also be restricted to in-built navigation and audio systems. Public consultation on the proposed motorcycle reforms will open on My Say Transport from Sunday May 3 till May 24.