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New drivers
| Penalty sets (km/h over speed limit) | First offence |
Second offence (within a year) |
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Demerit point penalty |
Monetary penalty |
Demerit point penalty |
Monetary penalty |
21 - 30 km/h |
4 points |
A$250 |
8 points |
A$250 |
31 - 40 km/h |
6 points |
A$350 |
12 points |
A$350 |
41 km/h and above |
8 points and 6 months suspension |
A$700 |
16 points and 6 months suspension |
A$700 |
The additional demerit points apply to any subsequent offence committed within 12 months of a previous offence. If you (driver/rider) commit more than one of these offences within a 12 month period, you will accumulate double the amount of demerit points on your traffic history for the subsequent offence. The number of demerit points that apply depend on the subsequent offence. The additional demerit point penalty is activated if you receive a subsequent offence for speeding more than 20 km/h within 12 months of the first offence. The additional points are applied in line with the second offence.
Did you know that a crash at 50 km/h is equivalent to falling from a three storey building? A crash at 100 km/h is equivalent to falling from a 12 storey building.
How long it takes to stop (driving an average vehicle)
Survival tips
- A lot of people say they speed because they’re running late. The simple answer is to leave earlier. Just allow an extra few minutes to get there.
- If other people in your car are egging you on to drive faster and risk losing your licence, maybe they’re not really the friends you thought they were. It’s not cool. Ask them if they’d prefer to walk or catch the bus.
- It takes longer to stop in the wet, so slow down.
- You can drive a little bit under the speed limit if that feels safer.
- Remember to turn your lights on if it’s hard to see - and pull over if you feel unsafe.
Hoons
Police have the power to impound a vehicle for certain repeat offences:
- Driving a vehicle that is both unregistered and uninsured (registration expired by more than 30 days).
- Driving while unlicensed or disqualified.
- Drink driving (blood or breath alcohol limit of 0.15 per cent or more).
- Failing to supply a specimen of breath or blood, or driving whilst under a 24 hour suspension.
- Driving an illegally modified or non-compliant vehicle.
If you are found committing one of these offences twice in three years your vehicle will be immediately impounded by the police for a minimum of 48 hours. The police also have the power to impound your vehicle for three months or forfeit it to the state if subsequent offences are detected within three years of the first offence.
Wear a seatbelt. Or wear the consequences
Seatbelts are the single most important safety feature in a motor vehicle. By not being restrained, vehicle occupant casualties as a result of road crashes are 68 per cent more likely to be serious casualties compared to restrained casualties. That’s why Formula One racing car drivers wear them. During 2007 there were 35 unrestrained vehicle occupant fatalities (or 23.2 per cent of the Queensland road toll) resulting from road crashes where restraint use was known. That’s why you have to wear one. Even if you’re just driving down to the shops, if the police catch you not wearing a seatbelt you’ll cop a $A225 fine and gain three demerit points. You can also be fined an additional three demerit points for repeat offences within a 12 month period. The same fine applies to the driver for every unrestrained passenger under 16 years too! An unrestrained passenger over 16 years will also gain three demerit points and be fined $A225. Ouch! Not wearing a seatbelt really hurts.
Survival tips
- Buckle up and make sure everyone else does too.
- It doesn’t matter how far you’re going – if you crash not wearing a seatbelt the result is the same.
Night driving and riding
Driving or riding at night is a more difficult task for new drivers. It is more difficult to identify hazards and judge distances at night compared to driving during the day. That’s why young drivers are now required to gain 10 hours night driving while on their learner licence under the guidance of a supervising driver. And, between 11pm and 5am, young drivers are only allowed to carry one passenger under 21 years. More than 40 per cent of fatalities as a result of crashes involving young drivers occur between 8pm-6am. New drivers should avoid the dangers of driving at this time as they can become tired. Try not to drive during your normal sleeping hours. There is a higher crash risk for young drivers on Friday and Saturday nights. As a young P1 or P2 provisional licence holder (under 25 years) you can’t drink any alcohol if you are driving. Even once you reach 25 years it’s best to avoid drinking alcohol as it can make you feel even more tired and less alert and impair your driving ability.
When riding a bicycle at night, you must have:
- a front light - a flashing or steady white light that can be seen for at least 200 metres (m)
- a rear light - a flashing or steady red light that can be seen for at least 200 m
- a red rear reflector that can be seen for at least 50m when a vehicle's headlights shine on it.
You can be fined $30 on-the-spot if you do not have these essential safety items. Don’t forget about other road users at night either. Here are some safety tips:
- Stay alert for pedestrians and cyclists particularly at night.
- Watch out for intoxicated pedestrians, especially around areas with pubs and clubs.
Keeping your car or motorbike in safe working order, including working head lights, will help minimise you breaking down at night.
Is your mobile phone putting you at risk?
Mobile telephones are great for keeping in touch with friends and family or in case of an emergency. But when mixed with driving they can be deadly. Studies confirm if you are driving in a situation that demands a lot of your attention, then performing another task like answering and talking on a phone can affect your driving. Learners, P1 provisional licence holders (under 25 years) and probationary P1 licence holders (regardless of age) are not allowed to use hands-free kits, Bluetooth accessories or loudspeaker functions while driving. Passengers and supervisors are also banned from using mobile phones in loudspeaker mode while the car is being driven. This does not apply to P2 provisional licence holders. All P2 provisional licence holders are subject to the current hand-held mobile phone legislation—this means it is against the law to drive while using a hand-held mobile phone.
Survival tips
- When your phone next rings, pull over to a safe area off the road and take the call or leave the call and return it when you’re not driving or riding.
- Better still, turn your phone off and turn your voice mail on before you jump in your car, on your motorbike or bike.
Peer group pressure
A car full of teenagers can be a recipe for disaster for a new driver. Negative peer group pressure can put the driver, passengers, and other road users at risk and cost a lot in so many ways. Research shows the more passengers a young, newly licensed driver has in their car, the greater the risk of having a crash. That’s why P1 provisional licence holders are restricted to carrying no more than one passenger under 21 years (excluding immediate family members) between 11pm and 5am. In addition to peer passenger restrictions there are also major penalties for these dangerous acts:
| Offence | Fine |
Demerit points |
Driving while passenger is car surfing |
$A140 |
3 |
Car surfing on a vehicle |
$A140 |
3 |
Driving a vehicle with too many passengers in the vehicle |
$A140 |
3 |
Driving a vehicle with passengers in the back of a panel van or utility |
$A140 |
3 |
The perfect passenger
Unfortunately, some friends can egg you on to speed or take other risks while driving. Ask your passengers to be patient with your driving ability and to respect you as a driver by not distracting you while driving. Equally, as a passenger, you have rights too – don’t ever get into a car if the driver has been drinking. You may feel pressured to get into a car or hop on the back of a motorbike when you just know it’s an accident waiting to happen. Show real strength. Get out. Walk. Catch a cab. Do anything other than put yourself in a dangerous situation. It’s your life we’re talking about here. If you’re in the passenger seat at other times, don’t be an idiot and encourage the driver to speed or hoon around. You’re a grown up now, so act like one. Be aware that P1 provisional licence holders under 25 years and probationary P1 licence holders can carry no more than one passenger under the age of 21 between the hours of 11pm and 5am (unless they are an immediate family member).
Rest or R.I.P.
Tiredness is a hidden killer. It creeps up on you and greatly increases the risk of you having a crash even if you think you’re driving carefully. You’re a young person so you’re much more likely to be out late at night – a particularly dangerous time to be behind the wheel.
Survival tips
- Take at least a 15 minute break every two hours. Even racing car drivers have pit stops. Pull into a rest area, tourist spot, or Driver Reviver site if you ever feel tired and don’t drive for more than 8-10 hours a day. It’s better to be a day late than dead on time.
- Be aware of fatigue even on short trips. If you’ve been awake for more than 16 hours your body begins to tire significantly. If you ever do feel tired ask someone to drive you home or pick you up.
Keep your head in a helmet
When you’re riding a bicycle, moped, or motorbike, you must wear a helmet. It’s against the law if you don’t. If the police catch you not wearing a motorbike helmet, you’ll wear a $A225 fine and gain three demerit points (with an additional three demerit points for repeat offences within a 12 month period). The same penalty applies to riders who have a passenger not wearing a motorbike helmet! A passenger failing to wear a motorbike helmet will also gain three demerit points and fined $A225. A bicycle rider of any age who fails to wear a helmet will be fined A$75.
Survival tip
- Wear a helmet every time you go for a ride. Keep your helmet near your bike, moped, or motorbike to serve as a reminder.
Maybe you don’t need a licence yet
There’s a lot to be said for riding a bicycle. Good for your legs. Good for your lungs. Good for the environment. Good for your budget! Public transport has a lot going for it, too. You simply hop on, kick back and relax, and let the other guy worry about looking ahead. It’s your choice whether or not you get your licence now or at some time in the future. Make your own decision.