Novice Drivers - the hard facts
There’s no getting around it. If you want to get around in WA, a car is really important.
Whether you’re going to work, home, the shops, or a mate’s place, the car is always there. But just because it’s a thing you do every day, doesn’t mean you can take your eyes off the road.
Around 17 per cent of all people seriously injured or killed on WA roads between 2013 and 2017 were are aged between 17 and 24, according to Main Roads WA data.
When you’re a novice driver it’s especially important to be aware that it’s a fact that you are at much higher risk when behind the wheel. The good news is that decreasing the odds of you and your passengers becoming a statistic is very much in your control.
Driving is exciting, but with great privilege comes great responsibility. Remember – how you behave when behind the wheel can and will impact you and those around you.
What you need to know
Everyone knows that using your phone while driving is dangerous. But what is surprising is just how common it is.
- 53% of young drivers admit to using their phone while driving.
- Of these, 65% have used Google Maps, 54% have texted, 53% have used a music app, and 29% have used Snapchat. Additionally, 39% of young drivers have had a near miss because they were distracted.
- Drivers who use a mobile phone while driving are up to 4 times more likely to be involved in a crash or near miss, regardless of whether a hands-free device is used.
Even though glancing down at your phone seems harmless, it can be deadly.
Think about how long it takes to read a text message. About five seconds? If you’re travelling at 100km/h, you’ll cover 138 metres. That’s like driving the length of the MCG with your eyes closed.
- In 2017, driving while distracted was the cause behind over 17 per cent of road fatalities. Which means they were avoidable.
So how are you supposed to get around this problem? Easy. Put your mobile phone away while driving, or even turn it completely off. Might sound like a drag, but getting to your mate’s place alive is more important than checking out their Snapchat on the way there.
Driving is like any skill - the more you do it, the better you get. That’s why it’s important to get as much experience with a supervisor as possible.
The rules say you need at least 50 hours of supervised driving, including at least 5 hours at night. That’s 25 hours before your hazard perception test, and another 25 hours over the next six months.
But that doesn’t mean you just drive the same route a hundred times, day after day. In order to be the best (and safest) driver possible, get experience in different conditions. Go driving when it’s raining, busy and quiet. Go out into the country and experience the open road.
The more experience, the better.
Having at least 100-120 hours of supervised driving experience can reduce your crash risk by about 30% when you first start driving on your Ps.
It shouldn’t come as any surprise that taking drugs (including alcohol) and driving is very dangerous.
Alcohol and other drugs can affect reaction times, judgement, decision-making, and concentration.
An investigation into deaths between 2000 and 2012 by Curtin University found almost half the drivers or riders killed on WA roads had drugs or alcohol in their system.
That’s why when you’re on your Ps, there is a zero-tolerance policy for having a BAC (blood alcohol concentration) above 0%. Getting caught with an elevated BAC – and you’re likely to get caught because the WA Police are constantly testing people – means you’ll lose your licence.
When you get caught – and you’re lucky enough to have not hurt someone - you’ll also have a harder time getting insurance and it can even impact your chances of scoring future jobs.
Remember, having a car is an adult responsibility, mistakes you make as a driver can have long term repercussions.
When you’re on your red Ps, there are restrictions around when you can drive. You’re not permitted to drive between midnight and 5am unless you’re at work, or going to or from work or school.
While it can be pretty annoying, it’s important to recognise that without a lot of experience on the roads, you’re at a higher risk of having an accident. After six months when you move to your green Ps, you’re allowed to drive at any time of the day.
Check out some of our tips for driving a night.