The Debaser [Online]

As of today, Provisional licensed drivers or 'P platers' in New South Wales will begin to feel the most pressure from the Government's crack down on speeding.

Speeding offenders will now be more heavily scrutinised with the spotlight shining particularly bright on P platers. The demerit point scheme is being tightened for all NSW drivers and penalties will be harsher for those that are caught speeding.

Amongst NSW P platers, a common theme cropping up is a brief moment that they all froze. Being addressed a letter with the RTA's stamp on the front is enough to provoke hesitation and nervousness in anyone.

Patrick Clarkstone, a P2 driver, told said that his eyes were immediately drawn to one particular word on the letter that caused him sudden panic.

'Speeding'

The arrival of the letter installed fear among many recipients as many caught the word 'Speeding' and thought that the letter was a fine. The letter, sent to all NSW P platers, was not a fine but just informing them of the new changes to penalties effective as of today.

The penalties include suspension for those on their second provisional licences (P2) after their second speeding offence. In addition, the increments for speeding ranges are being reduced from zero to 15 kilometres, to zero to ten kilometres.

P-plated speeding offenders will be penalised four demerit points instead of three. For those on their first provisional licences, they remain largely unaffected from the new penalties with zero tolerance still in place.

Minister for Roads Michael Daley released a statement saying, "The more you speed, the more harshly you will be punished." From today, fines and demerit point penalties are being increased for drivers speeding ten kilometres and over.

On the other hand, demerit point penalties for those caught speeding under ten kilometres has been reduced from three points to one. With the blow hitting P2 or 'Green' P platers the worst, most seem relatively unfazed about the harsher penalties.

Some see it as fair for a licence to be suspended after a second speeding offence for P2 drivers.

Christopher Conroy, a P2 driver, was unaware the changes were even going to take place. Despite not receiving the letter, Mr. Conroy believes the new penalties are reasonable.

"If you're caught speeding twice then you're a serial offender and you should face the consequences," said Mr. Conroy.

"This way it doesn't penalise the people who only speed a little over the limit versus those who speed a lot over," Mr. Conroy added.

Soraya Calavassy, also a P2 driver, was recently caught speeding 23 kilometres over the speed limit. Regardless, Miss Calavassy agrees that those caught speeding twice should have their licences suspended.

"I have already noticed, in myself, a reaction and aversion to speeding based on the fear of losing my license for the allocated period of time," said Miss Calavassy.

In regards to the loss of an additional demerit point, Miss Calavassy is less accepting. "I feel that, while we do hold provisional licenses, losing an additional demerit point is unreasonable in comparison to fully licensed drivers," said Miss Calavassy.

The reason behind this is her experiences of driving alongside fully licensed drivers who are often driving extremely close to her to pressure her to drive faster. "People who have held their licenses for twenty years and are still speeding should lose an additional demerit point as opposed to somebody who is still learning the ways of the road," said Miss Calavassy.

Leo Solomon, a P2 driver, sees the increase of penalties as simply inevitable and is not bothered by the changes. Mr. Solomon believes society's insecurities have and always will affect change like this.

"They're always going to do it. Just wait, in another year there will be another moral panic, and the media will go nuts and the age will increase [to gain a licence] etcetera," said Mr. Solomon.

Targeting P platers is something Mr. Solomon sees as nothing unusual. Mr. Solomon believes that being targeted or treated disproportionally as a P plater is history just repeating itself as it always will.

"As a sub-culture, youths are always something to be feared.

"This subculture is going to be treated differently to the norms within society, all subcultures get treatment like this," said Mr. Solomon.

What has really provoked the change in speeding penalties is a matter of debate. Government funds are at a low from the economic crisis being experienced with the Government is expecting the budget to incur a deficit of $57.6 billion for 2009-2010.

Revenue for the period is going to be raised at a significantly lower level from last year with a drop of $4 billion or 1.8 per cent. As the days pass grudgingly for the Australian Government, new ways to source revenue are needed urgently.

Speculation around the motivation behind the new speeding penalties is expected to be just that; revenue raising. The other provocation as suggested by the RTA and Mr. Daley is reducing fatalities on NSW roads.

The total number of people killed on NSW roads from 23rd of June 2007 to 2008 compared to the 23rd of June 2008 to 2009 has increased by 57 deaths. The letter that was sent out in late June informed recipients that speeding has caused 39 per cent of all deaths on NSW roads.

"The new bands have been designed to drive down the number of speeding-related deaths and injuries by better reflecting the seriousness of the offence," said Mr. Daley.

Mr. Daley said the Government's reasoning is to "make the penalty system fairer for motorists".

P platers can expect harsher penalties to come as Mr. Daley informed the public that the Government plans to continue to stamp out speeding, particularly targeting P2 drivers.