Almost every Australian state and territory will soon have restrictions on how many passengers certain provisional licence holders can carry.
From December 1, 2024, motorists in Western Australia with a Class P1 provisional licence (red P-plates) will be limited to carrying one passenger, following the introduction of Tom’s Law.
Named after Tom Saffioti – who was killed alongside Nick Campo when the car they were being driven in by a red P-plater crashed with five passengers aboard – the new regulations are aimed at reducing the risk for some of the most inexperienced licence holders while behind the wheel.
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When the new regulations are introduced, new and existing red P-platers will only be able to carry more than one passenger if said occupants have either been fully licensed for four or more years, or are immediate family members, or they’re required due to the driver’s employment.
In the latter instance, the driver must carry a letter from their employer at all times, should they be questioned by police.
If caught with more than one passenger outside of the exemptions, drivers can be fined $200 and receive two demerit points – the same penalty as breaching the state’s red P-plate curfew which runs from midnight to 5:00am.
Western Australia is the second-last state or territory to introduce restrictions on P-platers’ passenger-carrying capabilities, as the Northern Territory is yet to bring in any specific laws for this circumstance.
- New South Wales
- P1: No more than one passenger aged under 21 between 11:00pm and 5:00am, provided the driver is under 25
- P2: No more than one passenger for at least 12 months if a previous disqualification has been recorded
- Victoria
- P1: No more than one passenger aged between 16 and 22, provided they’re not a spouse, domestic partner or immediate family member
- Queensland
- P1: No more than one passenger, who isn’t an immediate family member, aged under 21 between 11:00pm and 5:00am
- South Australia
- P1: No more than one passenger, who isn’t an immediate family member, aged 16 to 20 years old between 11:00pm and 5:00am, provided the driver is under 25
- Tasmania
- P1: No more than one passenger aged between 16 and 21, provided they’re not a spouse, domestic partner or immediate family member
- Australian Capital Territory
- P1: No more than one passenger aged from 16 and 22 years old, provided they’re not a spouse, domestic partner or immediate family member, between 11:00pm and 5:00am
Western Australia’s new passenger restrictions coincide with the expansion of its Safe Driver Reward Program for P-platers.
At present, the program incentivises safe driving by awarding P-platers with a free full licence for 12 months, provided they don’t rack up any demerit points throughout their two-year probationary period.
The revised scheme will see the demerit-free period extended to three years, at which point drivers will receive a $100 discount off for their five-year full licence, which currently costs $163.50.
The WA state government is also offering a Safe Driving Course for up to 750 people under 25 years of age as an optional component of the existing Driver Access and Equity Program.
Its Prevent Alcohol and Risk-related Trauma in Youth (PARTY) program is also being expanded to regional students, and provides opportunities for young motorists to understand the trauma associated with road crashes through Western Australia’s hospitals.
