Changes to young driver proposals a step forward

Canberra: The State Government´s concessions on passenger and vehicle restrictions for P platers are a step in the right direction toward saving young lives, NRMA Motoring & Services CEO, Mr Tony Stuart, said today.
Ahead of the Australian Government´s Young Driver Safety Forum in Canberra today, NRMA said it was pleased the Government had listened to the community´s concerns about the fairness and practicality of blanket restrictions for all young drivers.
?Many young drivers are responsible citizens trying to do the right thing,? Mr Stuart said.
?Young people and their families told us they didn´t think it was fair to punish everyone to reach a minority of young drivers doing the wrong thing ? particularly when most young drivers have an unblemished record.?
Mr Stuart said NRMA was relieved the Government would instead only restrict the number of passengers in cars driven by P platers who had lost their licence previously.
?There is a growing level of community acceptance that young drivers with a history of dangerous or irresponsible driving could be effectively targeted by different types of restrictions,? Mr Stuart said.
NRMA President, Mr Ross Turnbull, said NRMA would continue to talk with the Government about its proposals to restrict high-powered vehicles. 
?NRMA recognises that the Minister´s proposal not to force 17 and 18 year-old car owners from selling their vehicle is a more reasonable plan than a blanket ban on high-powered cars,? Mr Turnbull said.
Mr Turnbull said the Government had already signalled that young people driving a vehicle owned by their employer would be exempt. 
?We´d like an assurance that young people who are self-employed are also exempt,? Mr Turnbull said.
?We will be talking to the Government about situations where families have more than one car but all are high-powered and special needs that country drivers may have.
?Some of Australia´s most popular family cars on the Victorian Government´s restricted vehicle register have an internationally recognised crashworthiness rating of three or four stars - including Holdens and Fords.?