Changes coming for L and P drivers

Further changes will be introduced to the Graduated Licensing Scheme in the second half of next year to better prepare novice drivers for progresssing to a full licence.

The key measures passed by Parliament on 1 December 2009 follow an earlier change introduced on 31 August 2009, banning L and P1 drivers from using any type of mobile phone function while driving.

The key measures expected to become effective in the last half of 2010 include:

• Increasing the minimum time required on a learner’s permit from 6 to 12 months for drivers under the age of 25 years.
• Increasing the minimum supervised driving time for learner's permit holders from 50 hours (including 10 at night) to 75 hours (including 15 at night).
• Increasing the maximum speed limit a learner's permit holder may travel on a road from 80 km/h to 100 km/h, where speed signs permit this. At present, learner drivers are only allowed to travel at 100 km/h when accompanied by a motor driving instructor, in a clearly marked driving school vehicle fitted with dual brakes.
• Provisional (P1 and P2) drivers under 25 years of age will be restricted from driving high-powered cars including vehicles with engines of 8 or more cylinders; turbocharged or supercharged engines (except diesel powered vehicles), vehicles that have been modified to increase engine performance and a number of nominated high performance vehicles.
• Tightening of curfew conditions for novice drivers returning from a serious disqualification, a penalty of two demerit points for failure to display L and P plates instead of licence disqualification and the offer of a Safer Driver Agreement option for disqualified provisional drivers.

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Improving vehicle safety is one of the major elements of the Safe System approach to road safety.  

A new vehicle’s safety is tested under controlled laboratory conditions through the Australasian New Car Assessment Program (ANCAP).  

ANCAP crash tests vehicles and rates them between one and five stars. A higher star rating means a better crash test result and better protection for passengers and the driver. 

To get an ANCAP five star rating, a vehicle must be fitted with Electronic Stability Control (ESC). ESC is an advanced safety feature designed to automatically apply the brakes to selected wheels if your car drives from its intended path. This ensures the vehicle continues safely in the intended direction. All Australian manufactured cars and a large percentage of imported cars have ESC.  

The Australian Government has recently announced that ESC will be mandated through Australian Design Rules for completely new passenger cars, passenger vans and off-road vehicles from November 2011 and for all new and existing passenger cars, passenger vans and off-road vehicles sold from November 2013.  

The move towards five star safety continues, with the Australian-made Holden Commodore Utility recently receiving a five star crash test rating from ANCAP.

The ANCAP result reflects the long list of safety features found standard across the VE Ute range including side impact airbags, curtain airbags and Electronic Stability Control (ESC) incorporating Anti-lock Braking System (ABS), Electronic Brakeforce Distribution (EBD), Electronic Brake Assist (EBA) and Traction Control System (TCS).  

The latest result means Holden’s entire locally manufactured vehicle range now carries a five-star safety rating from ANCAP. This is in line with consumers starting to demand safer vehicles.  

Vehicle safety features should be a high priority when purchasing a car whether brand new or second hand. Visit ANCAP for new car safety ratings. Visit the RAA for used car safety ratings.  

For information about buying a car, get a free copy of the free guide Autocheck – Your guide to buying and maintaining a car produced by the Office of Consumer and Public Affairs. This publication is available from Service SA customer service centres, the RAA, Motor Trades Association (MTA) and many new and used car dealerships. 

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Over the last five years, nearly one in every 10 road deaths in South Australia was a pedestrian. In the 12 months to June 2009 there have been 14 pedestrian fatalities and 95 pedestrians seriously injured.  

Safety for occupants of cars is often the focus of car manufacturers as consumers demand more and expect five star safety for the cars they buy and drive.  

As drivers of cars, we need to remember that pedestrians are also important. If a car, hits a pedestrian there are a number of safety features that make the impact safer for the pedestrian.  

Recently the Centre for Automotive Safety Research (CASR) presented a public lecture on pedestrian impact testing which highlighted methods and techniques to determine how safe cars are for pedestrians.  

CASR’s impact laboratory provides results for the Australasian New Car Assessment Program (ANCAP), which gives a rating for safety performance of new vehicles in a collision with a pedestrian. 

CASR uses sub-systems that represent the head, femur and knee joint of a pedestrian launching them at a stationary vehicle at 40 km /hr.  

Selection points seen as the most likely to cause impact including the bonnet, windscreen and bumper bar are tested. Cars with a greater clearance space between the bonnet and engine are more likely to get a higher safety rating. See this short video of how the pedestrian impact testing takes place. 

The majority of cars tested by CASR have a high star rating for occupant protection but a low star rating for pedestrian impact. Cars that currently have the maximum four star rating for pedestrian impact include the Subaru Impreza and Citroen C6. 

There is a range of new technologies that can further assist cars becoming safer for pedestrian impact. These include active bonnets, brake assistance, reversing sensors and cameras, collapsible bonnet mounts to provide a crumple zone under the bonnet if a pedestrian hits the bonnet and using different construction materials such as aluminium rather than steel to provide a softer, less severe impact.

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One of the first and most familiar safety features in cars is the seatbelt. South Australian produced vehicles have been fitted with seatbelts since 1964. 

In a road crash, the seatbelt offers in excess of 40% reduction of fatality and serious injury compared to using no restraint. 

Light passenger vehicles today are equipped with greater safety features and technology. Airbags and Anti-locking Braking System (ABS) are common in light vehicles and Electronic Stability Control (ESC) is an Australian vehicle manufacturing standard. 

ESC is an advanced safety feature designed to compare the driver’s intended path with the vehicle’s actual path and applies brakes to selected wheels if the two don’t match, ensuring the vehicle continues safely in the intended direction. 

International research demonstrates that ESC can reduce single vehicle crashes by 35% in passenger vehicles and 67% in 4WD and sports utility vehicles. 

New and emerging vehicle technologies that feature in crash avoidance include: 

• Adaptive cruise control – as you approach a slower vehicle in front of you, it slows your vehicle down to match their speed.
• Tyre pressure monitoring – provides a warning when the pressure in a tyre drops, which reduces the stability of your vehicle.
• Reversing sensors and cameras – provides an audible or visual warning to let the driver know a person or object is close to the rear of the vehicle.
• Electronic overtaking assistance - a system using vehicle radar to scan the environment and warn the driver of unsafe overtaking and oncoming vehicles, ultimately to brake the vehicle and avoid an imminent collision.
• Lane change warning systems – a vehicle camera recognises when you are drifting across line markings without using an indicator and raises an alarm.
• Active brake assist – a sensor at the front of the vehicle senses when another slow or stationary vehicle or object is in front of you and applies the brakes automatically.
• Intelligent speed assist – a linked GPS system sounds an alarm if you are speeding over the signed speed limit for a road.
• Smart licence keys – the key is programmed for individual driver requirements. For example, a young driver’s key program only allows them to drive at a set speed limit in line with their licence conditions.
• Fatigue management systems – cameras recognise when drivers eyes are closing or blinking and sounds an alarm to wake the driver, assisting in reducing fatigue related crashes.
• Emergency crash assistance – if your vehicle is involved in a crash the emergency services are automatically contacted with your GPS location and accident information.

This Mercedes safety car clip highlights a range of new vehicle safety technologies.

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The Department of Planning, Transport and Infrastructure was awarded the 2009 Fleet Safety Award by the Australasian Fleet Managers Association (AfMA) in September.

Awarded for it's vehicle purchasing policy, which provides significant safety benefits and improvements to vehicle purchasing.

The Department's vehicles must have:

• a minimum four star rating in the Australian New Car Assessment Program (ANCAP)
• Electronic Stability Control (ESC)
• Anti-lock Braking System (ABS)
• daytime running lights
• driver and front passenger airbags
• three-point seatbelts in all positions (including centre rear seat)
• cargo barriers or an appropriate load restraint systems for station wagons, hatchbacks, vans, utilities and tray top vehicles.

A range of desirable features should be selected wherever possible and should be given priority in the selection process including:

• traction control
• speed alert system
  lighter colour vehicles (providing better visibility for other road users)
• side (thorax) airbags (front). These deploy from the side of the seat back to help protect a front seat occupant’s chest and head in certain side impact collisions
• curtain airbags.  These deploy downward from the vehicle’s roof-line, just above the front and rear doors, providing additional head impact protection for passengers in outboard seating positions
• high pedestrian safety rating on ANCAP
• seat belt reminder system
• height adjustable seat belts
• head-rests for all positions with front seats fully adjustable.

Since the policy was introduced, there has been a recorded crash reduction of 19% and a 100% reduction in employee compensation claims due to a vehicle crash injury.

Fleet managers consider the award, sponsored by ANCAP, O’Brien and Driver Safety Services, to be a very prestigious award.

AfMA represents more than 550 fleet managers and coordinators, responsible for approximately 800,000 fleet vehicles throughout Australia and New Zealand.

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Driving a roadworthy vehicle is crucial to your safety and that of other road users.

Roadworthy vehicles are those that are fit for use on our roads. They comply with standard vehicle requirements including wheels and tyres, steering, brakes, seatbelts, lamps and reflectors, exhaust and emission controls, windscreens and wipers and vehicle body and chassis.

Random on-road inspections ensure vehicle owners are aware of their obligations to maintain their vehicles in a safe roadworthy condition. SA Police issued approximately 23,000 defect notices in 2008. 

Some defect notices ban the use of the vehicle until the defect issue is rectified and the vehicle is inspected to ensure compliance to vehicle standards. The Department of Planning, Transport and Infrastructure's vehicle inspectors perform a vast majority of vehicle inspections at the Regency Park inspection facility and other facilities around the state.  

Approximately 10,000 light vehicles are inspected each year, representing 1% of the light vehicles on South Australian roads. Of these, approximately 3,000 are for first inspection defect clearances with the remaining 7,000 inspections to assess rebuild of wrecked vehicles, pre-registration inspections of highly modified, imported and non-standard vehicles, and second inspections on defected vehicles. 

Police and the department also conduct static checking sites to check heavy vehicles for compliance including roadworthiness and safe load restraint. More information about car roadworthiness. 

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