NSW Opposition Leader Peter Debnam today released a comprehensive policy for better and safer P-plate drivers striking the right balance between greater involvement of parents, values-based driver education, tougher penalties for serious offenders and stronger enforcement measures. 

"Unlike Labor I will give parents greater support to get the message across to their teenage kids about the dangers and responsibilities of driving," Mr Debnam said.

"Like drugs and alcohol, cars can destroy teenagers' lives. We need to take the same approach as we do with alcohol and drugs to ensure teenagers make the right choices and are responsible when it comes to driving," he said.

"Under Labor’s policy, young drivers are only taught the road rules and given some chaperoned drive time before we send them out on our roads. But these are not the only skills a good driver needs.

"Labor’s policy fails to go the extra step to teach our teenage kids the right attitudes and right behaviours to driving that will help save their lives.

"We have a responsibility to get these messages across, however we believe parents play the most important role, and we will give the support they need to do just that.’

"As part of my policy, parents will be given $100 financial incentives to put their teenage kids through defensive driving courses and will be officially notified of P–plate speeding offences. Parents will also receive family education packs, modelled on the ‘Tough on Drugs’ program, when their teenage kids apply for their L-plates, to help families discuss the dangers and responsibilities of driving.

"Also in the package are tougher penalties for serious and serial speeding offenders, including longer six month suspensions and compulsory 20-hour community service orders for excessive speeding. And for repeat offenders, caught going more than 30km/h over the limit, the NSW Liberal/Nationals will impound the vehicle for three months." 

The policy draws on a similar measure introduced by Peter Debnam ten years ago, when as a backbencher he forced the Labor Government to support laws to impound vehicles of car hoons to stop street racing that was terrorising local communities, particularly in his local electorate at Bondi.

The measures quickly proved successful, and were heralded by police as having a major impact.

Ten years later Peter Debnam believes these tough measures can be successful again to crack down on irresponsible young P-plate drivers who refuse to get the message about road safety and the dangers of speeding.

"These hoons love their cars. They may be too stupid or too irresponsible to not think twice about endangering their own lives or those of others. But by taking away their wheels you can send them a message they will understand.

"The policy also proposes that first time offences for low range speeding – less than 15 km/h over the limit – be treated as an important warning sign. Unlike Labor’s policy for such speeding offences, there will be no automatic suspension of the license. Rather, these drivers will be required to attend a full day compulsory driver education.

"The vast majority of young drivers want to and try to do the right thing. We need to be careful not to unnecessarily punish a whole generation of new drivers and their families, with sweeping measures, that can prove difficult to enforce, and take our focus away from more serious offenders.

"Labor’s policy of first strike suspension for lower range speeding could see numerous young drivers caught and disqualified, causing significant and unnecessary disruption to them and their families. This risk will be greatest in regional and rural NSW with young drivers trying to navigate the multiple speed zones that occur up and down our major highways, particularly around road works.   

"However, any speeding offence must be treated as a warning sign and heeded in the interests of protecting young drivers and the community from more serious offences. That is why we will introduce compulsory driver education for these offences, as well as alerting parents to the offence.

"Importantly, the NSW Liberal/Nationals will increase police presence on the roads to give effect to these and other new restrictions, including

• 300 extra highway patrol police officers,

• 120 additional highway patrol motor vehicles, and

• 50 additional highway patrol motorcycles.

"We do not believe that increasing restrictions alone can stop the carnage of young lives lost on our roads. Unlike Labor, we believe resources must also be dedicated to enforcement through increased highway patrol officers, as recognised by police themselves, to give these restrictions effect." 

Unlike newcomers to this issue, Morris Iemma and Eric Roozendaal, Peter Debnam’s stance on road safety has form. For ten years, Peter Debnam has successfully fought for the community in Parliament on road safety.

As the community looks for answers to stop the carnage of young lives lost on our roads, Peter Debnam has demonstrated the compassion, experience and resolve required to get the job done.