P-Plate Passenger Laws
It’s critically important to understand p plate passenger laws as you begin to learn to drive. The Graduated Licensing Scheme, or GLS, is the process that you must follow in order to get your full licence – and through this process, there are a number of different plate restrictions that are put in place that have to do with your ability to travel with passengers, depending on whether you have green p plates or red p plates.
P plate laws may seem quite confusing, but once you understand they are quite easy to follow along with the general road rules.
It’s believed that safer limits can help build the confidence of young drivers. These limits include certain vehicle types, laws against using mobile phones while in the car, speed limit restrictions, and even the number of passengers you can have. Additionally, drink driving or driving high remains illegal and highly penalised.
Learner and provisional P1 drivers are not allowed to drive any faster than 90 km/h, while provisional P2 drivers may not drive faster than 100 km/h. Further, learner or provisional drivers who speed by more than 30 km/h may face an immediate suspension, and could get their license confiscated.
Learner and P1 drivers who are penalised for their speeding offence will receive four demerit points, and will, therefore, lose their license for upwards of three months or more. P2 drivers may lose their license for three months if they are penalised twice for speeding.
Vehicle restriction laws must be adhered to as well. P1 and P2 drivers cannot drive high-performance vehicles that have modified engines that need to be approved by an engineer or power to tare mass ratios of over 130kW per tonne.
P1 drivers who are under 25 years of age may not drive with more than one passenger under the age of 21 between the hours of 11 pm and 5 am. P1 and P2 drivers that are issued a new licence after previously having been disqualified from driving may only carry one passenger of any age for 12 months.
Additional regulations have to do with blood alcohol, mobile phones, towing, and seatbelts.
All learner and provisional drivers may not have a blood alcohol limit of any higher than zero – they cannot consume any alcohol whatsoever before driving.
Learner, P1, and P2 license holders may not use a mobile phone while driving, including hands free modes that involve the loud speaker or sending text messages. All learner, P1, and P2 license holders must be parked and out of the line of traffic in order to use a mobile phone.
Learners licence and P1 license drivers who end up getting caught with a mobile phone will receive five demerit points, thus exceeding their demerit point threshold. They’ll end up facing a three-month suspension of their license.
P2 license holders will have only two demerit points remaining if they are penalised for using a mobile phone.
Learning drivers may not tow a trailer or any vehicle, and cannot drive any vehicle being towed. P1 drivers may not drive a vehicle towing another vehicle with a mass of more than 250kg.
Learner, P1, and P2 drivers may only drive a vehicle that has a seatbelt in the driver’s seat. Drivers may not carry more passengers than there are passenger seatbelts.
All learner and provisional drivers must display their L and P plates on the front and back of the vehicle, with letters not hidden in any way. Driving unsupervised can result in learner drivers having their driver licence suspended.
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