Just read a letter to the editor, regarding young drivers and accidents, where the writer suggests restricting the engine capacity of learner and restricted License holders. No one, regardless of age, can obtain a learner or restricted motorcycle license, then go out and buy a Suzuki Hyabusa and then legally ride it on the road. Yet a young person can obtain a car license at the age of 15 and legally drive a car with over 300hp, 220kw of power.
Should learner and restricted drivers be retricted to cars rated 1600cc or lower, low HP rating and/or kw rating.
For the record, I think that would be better than lifting the driving age.
girlracer2005,
Jul 2, 7:39am
be better to retrict the kw's not cc's. as some engines of the same cc rating are alot more powerful then others
saxman99,
Jul 2, 8:10am
I reckon restrict the power:weight ratio AND the cc rating.
saxman99,
Jul 2, 8:59am
As usual you are probably dead right Kaz.
esprit,
Jul 2, 9:24am
You just can't restrict kW ratings. I mean how do you test them! Even if you could, for $100 you can install a switch that'll make your 500bhp Evo detune down to about 150bhp for a test if you want to.
Best to just have a blanket CC rating of 1500cc Max with no forced induction or rotary engines for anyone on restricted licences, and then change the licensing laws so that you can't achieve your full licence until you're 20.
Job done.
gilligan2,
Jul 2, 10:25am
The bike laws are awesome . I had an rs250 with 80 hp on a learners license. Because I am awesome!
richardmayes,
Jul 2, 10:46am
A good idea, poorly executed, can crash any car however powerful it is. A bad idea, perfectly executed, can crash any car however powerful it is.
The engines aren't the problem here.
gilligan2,
Jul 2, 10:48am
I think you are right. Solution = stab your kids!
bill-robinson,
Jul 2, 10:49am
Strikes me that this is the nanny state getting worse. Bill
gilligan2,
Jul 2, 10:51am
Solution= stab the elderly.
sifty,
Jul 2, 11:28am
I believe the bike laws are changing, to reflect the stupidity of a cc rated system.
Going by the Aussie list of approved bikes I saw though, they were saying a BSA Gold Star was suitable for a learner.
gilligan2,
Jul 2, 12:17pm
Better go and get my full then.
steve312,
Jul 2, 1:29pm
Why not limit the restricted drivers to a 1300cc naturally aspirated non modified engine for the duration of their restricted licence!There are issues with young or beginner drivers being able to go out and buy a 600hp Skyline as soon as they get their licence.Many experienced drivers don't have the ability to maintain control of a powerful vehicle, so why expect a newby driver to have any chance.Bugger the restriction of personal rights.We the taxpayer are the ones that are funding the results of the over representation of young drivers in speed and loss of control vehicle accidents.The current status of no restriction on what new drivers can drive can't be let continue.There are going to be plenty that whine on about civil rights but why should I have to pay for the results of inexperienced drivers failing to maintain control of their vehicles!
bill-robinson,
Jul 2, 1:31pm
Who would change your nappies then!
wrong2,
Jul 2, 2:17pm
thats assuming that 350 hp is going to be the new HP limit for 15 year old learners. . . . .
HP could be done as all manufacturers state the amount for all their models
but i agree with making them stick to punyhatches for their main irresponsible unskilled years
wrong2,
Jul 2, 2:21pm
letting learners into too powerfull cars ISNT a problem !
the only restriction a 15 year old has for motoring is a money restriction
how crazy is it for 16 year old restrictedkids to be allowed to drive solo in supercharged big blocks or 280 km/h subies & evos !!!
its totally crazy. admitting it doesnt make you less of a man
lugee,
Jul 2, 2:27pm
1300cc is a ridiculous number. So you're saying that a restricted drive couldn't drive an 1800cc Toyota Prius!
wrong2,
Jul 2, 2:42pm
why not
set the limit - & automatically that instant there will be some car from some manufacturer that will just fall foul of the new limit
so what
a limit of some kind would be better than the current allowed free-for-all
Let's be honest here - Stupid reckless teenagers will be stupid and reckless, regardless of how powerful the car is.
Don't try and tell me you can't get up to shenanigans in a 1600cc Toyota Corolla hatchback ; Been there done that.
A better idea would be to provide an incentive for my drivers to learn to drive a stick shift - for instance if someone does their restricted in a manual it costs $30-$40 less. More manual drivers - more people who can actually drive and not just steer their cars - less accidents. In theory, anyway. Just my 2 cents.
richardmayes,
Jul 2, 2:55pm
During past times of war, teenagers have been taught in large numbers to operate fighter aircraft with such phenomenal engines that a big block V8 would barely be adequate as a starter motor for them.
When the driver/pilot's fear of the consequences that will attend a mistake or a misdemeanour is high enough, the drivers/pilots quickly learn to perform at a high standard and without playing silly buggers. Surprise!
What we need to do here is motivate young drivers so that they want to behave better.
All that an engine restriction would do is ensure that the idiots race and kill themselves in older, shittier cars.
(And I say this as someone who only ever drove older, shittier cars in his youth!)
wrong2,
Jul 2, 3:01pm
you might want to check your survival rates for WW1 , & for the average age for WW2
neither will help out your claims
& you dont need a BB to start a Griffon or a Napier
wrong2,
Jul 2, 3:04pm
yeah & i had a datsun 180b & was 4 wheel drifting it every weekend i had money on the gravel
how much faster would have been my whoopsies if it had been an Evo
richardmayes,
Jul 2, 3:39pm
I don't follow the crashes carefully enough to be scientific about it, but it seems like it's not just the turbo supercars but there are a lot of DA6 Integras, Mazda Familias and those sorts of $1,000 - $4,000 cars from the 1990s involved in the really big horror crashes where a whole bunch of teenagers gets wiped out.
If you set the engine restriction at a level that blocks those cars off, you're going to be stopping a lot of honest teenagers from driving to work, stopping young mums driving to the shop for baby formula for example. But if you don't block those cars, you're letting through a lot of the main weapons that kids are using to cause carnage. It's a tough one.
d.snell,
Jul 2, 3:48pm
The easiest way is to bring in compulsory insurance with Instant 3 month disqualification for no insurance and in the case of a restricted/learner driver, licence cancelled and made to resit it again. Same with driving outside hours and carrying passengers, instant cancellation.
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