DRIVER'S LICENCE CURFEWS

11 Mr HANNA (Mitchell) (30 March 2006). Will the Government consider introducing an exemption for work purposes when curfew conditions are imposed on driver's licences?

The Hon. K.O. FOLEY (Port Adelaide—Deputy Premier, Treasurer, Minister for Industry and Trade, Minister for Federal/State Relations): The Hon. Carmel Zollo MLC has advised:

The Rann Government’s prime reason for instigating recent changes to driver licensing, including the curfew, was for a tougher approach to driver licensing requirements in response to the youth road toll. An exemption from the curfew would undermine the effectiveness of the provisional licence conditions by lessening the impact of the penalty and thus lowering the deterrent effect of this measure. The previous hardship provision was toughened because it had become a common view among young drivers that obtaining exemptions to licence disqualifications on hardship grounds was a mere formality. The Member for Mitchell should realise that the curfew is not applied to drivers who have been disqualified for a series of minor demerit-point offences, but for specifically-defined serious category offences.

Road Crash statistics show that provisional licence holders in South Australia who are driving very late at night have a crash rate seven times greater than the day time rate. The intention of the curfew is to reduce the number of late-night crashes by provisional drivers, especially by provisional drivers who have demonstrated bad driving behaviour and lack of respect for the road laws.

Novice drivers receive several reminders of the consequences of inappropriate driving behaviour leading to licence disqualification and subsequent conditions imposed on them, including the curfew. These reminders are contained in the Driver’s Handbook, which they are required to study in preparation for the theory test to get their Learner’s Permit, in their logbook of driving hours and experience, and booklets about the provisional licence stage.

As the arrangements for novice drivers, including the curfew condition, have only been in operation since October 2005, we do not propose to recommend any further changes until the scheme has been in operation for longer and its effectiveness has been reviewed.