Re: driver education - advanced training programs
Thank you for your email of 13 March 2007 to the Honourable Paul Lucas MP,
Minister for Transport and Main Roads regarding driver education and
advanced driver training. The Minister has asked that I respond on his
behalf.
Please allow me to reassure you that the Queensland Government is
committed to improving road safety, and in conjunction with all
Queenslanders, has significantly reduced the road toll over the last
decade despite a booming population and increasing number of vehicles on
register. However, one life lost on our roads is one too many.
At this time, Queensland Transport (QT) does not support traditional
approaches to defensive or advanced driver training for young drivers. I
am advised that, while most drivers develop additional skills such as
hazard perception and the ability to manage distractions through
experience and practice, international and Australian research shows that
driver training beyond that required to gain an initial driver licence may
not decrease crash risk, particularly among young males.
However, QT has been involved in ongoing discussion and research both
within Australia and overseas into the area of driver training. It is
recognised that, while learner drivers have the lowest crash involvement
of any driver group, provisional drivers are at the greatest risk in their
first year of solo driving. Promising results have been found for
training programs that focus on attitude-motivation and
cognitive-perceptual skills (Review of literature regarding national and
international young driver training, licensing and regulatory systems ?
Senserrick and Haworth, 2005 - Australia).
You may be interested to know that evaluations of driver training programs
established in Sweden and a program in Finland have, to date, received
mixed results. However a survey of participants in the Swedish program
found positive shifts in attitudes and self-reported behaviour,
particularly for young males (Senserrick and Haworth, 2005 ? Australia)
The Federal Government is developing a post-licence driver education
program in New South Wales and Victoria, prior to national roll-out. The
course aims to provide provisional drivers with an understanding of their
own limitations and an insight into how they can reduce the risks they
face on the road.
Queensland has not been included in the initial Federal Government program
at this stage. However, post-licence driver training was identified as
part of the recently announced Young Driver Package as one way to enhance
provisional driver education and training in Queensland. QT is currently
investigating options to trial, evaluate and implement an appropriate
program.
To address this important road safety issue, on 12 August 2006, Queensland
Government announced a new graduated licensing system (GLS). The
Queensland Government is set to progressively introduce this new system
for young motorists from 1 July 2007 to reduce crashes, particularly among
young drivers.
Key changes include:
· gaining 100 hours of certified supervised on-road driving
experience for learners under 25 years of age, recorded in a logbook;
· progressive development of a package for learner drivers;
· education package for learner drivers and supervisors (parents);
· a split provisional phase (P1 and P2);
· compulsory P plates (a red plate for P1 and green plate for P2);
· restricting all mobile phone use, including hands-free, blue-tooth
accessories, and loud-speaker functions for learner and P1 provisional
licence holders under 25. Their passengers and supervisors of learner
drivers are also prohibited from using the mobile phone loud speaker
function;
· peer passenger restrictions (carrying no more than one passenger
aged under 21, with exemptions for immediate family members) from 11pm to
5am for P1 drivers under 25 years of age;
· young drivers under 25 years of age disqualified from driving will
return to P1, with a night driving restriction;
· high-powered vehicle restrictions for P1 and P2 drivers under 25
years of age;
· motorbike learners will be required to hold a provisional car
licence for 12 months prior to obtaining a learner motorbike licence; and
· introduction of a hazard perception test HPT. When introduced, P1
licence holders will be required to pass the HPT prior to upgrading to a
P2 licence.
More details regarding the proposed initiatives can be located at the
dedicated young driver website
www.transport.qld.gov.au/youngdrivers.
With regards to your comments about turbocharged diesel vehicles, it is
likely that turbocharged diesel vehicles will not be on the restricted
vehicle list. At this stage, QT is still finalising the criteria that
will identify the types of vehicles that will be restricted. Until
legislation is finalised, specific details on the restrictions cannot be
provided, however as a general guide the vehicles that provisional drivers
are likely to be restricted from driving may include:
· vehicles with eight or more cylinders;
· turbocharged vehicles (except diesel);
· supercharged vehicles (except diesel);
· vehicles with an engine output of more than 200kw;
· vehicles with a rotary engine above 1146cc; and
· vehicles with an engine performance modification that is not
standard to the original manufacturer's specifications and requires
approval from an approved person.
In relation to your suggestion that drivers of 4WDs undergo a driving test
similar to that of a HR licence, motor vehicle classifications and the
classes of licence required to drive them are evaluated and set to a
nationally agreed standard. Vehicles with a gross vehicle mass (GVM) of
up to and including 4.5 tonne with the capacity to carry not more than 12
passengers (including the driver) are classed as light vehicles, and as
such drivers only require a car licence to drive them.
Existing national licensing standards allow for an individual to undergo
practical testing in a motor vehicle up to 4.5 tonne GVM and consequently
are licensed to drive any motor vehicle in that category. The skills and
manoeuvres assessed for competency during the test are representative of
those required for the on-road use of any motor vehicle within this
licence class category, whether such a vehicle be a sedan or station wagon
equipped with either normal or four-wheel drive.
It is acknowledged that there are additional driving skills required when
operating a 4WD vehicle in ?off road? conditions. To address this need
there are a number of commercial enterprises that offer specific ?off
road? driver training for that purpose. However, the skill level and
techniques required to drive a 4WD vehicle on city streets is the same as
any other light vehicle. Indeed, there are 4WD vehicles with automatic
transmissions which require less manual dexterity and fine motor skills
than driving a small manual sedan.
The grouping of all motor vehicles up to 4.5 tonne into the one licence
class is the result of several years of driver assessment development
within Queensland. Such development has included extensive consultation
with the driver training industry. This practice is consistent with the
nationally agreed standard which was adopted after several years of
consultation between industry groups, State and Federal Government
departments.
The Minister thanks you for your feedback and interest in road safety. If
you require further information, please contact Ms Renae Moore, Land
Transport and Safety on (07) 3253 4397. Ms Moore will be pleased to
assist you.
Yours sincerely
And that's only my 5 minute quicky check - gawd only knows what the MOT man will find 
Let's just hope the ABS light behaves itself for the test....
Last time I had a wheel bearing go (Xantia) it did exhibit quietening on corners, but was the reverse of normal (went quiet when loaded). Citroens, eh 
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