This petition is in relation to the current probationary driving law in Victoria for P2 drivers. Demonstrated here is the legislation instated at the moment, and facts regarding the prohibition laws currently in place that have gained spotlight in the media in the last 12 months.

This is not a petition to help young and inexperienced drivers get behind the wheel of high performance vehicles, but rather offer a transitional period from P plate driving into the open world of "high-powered" vehicles. Idiot drivers are going to be idiot drivers regardless of type of car, age, gender etc. All over YouTube we are shown videos of drivers in their 30's burning the rubbing down to the rims. These are the people that should have restrictions if anyone. You can have a fatal high speed crash in your mum's Toyota Corolla. There is no proven statistic between the amount of cylinders in your car and the chance of crashing.. It all comes down to experience and maturity in which many P platers demonstrate in their 3 years of the green P plate system.

If your child/loved one is going to drive a higher performance vehicle, wouldn't you prefer them to be under the restrictions held in place by the probationary driving restricting (e.g Blood alcohol level of 0, limited passengers etc)? Less room for distractions and loss of concentration in younger drivers. But for those of us who have proven discipline and demonstrate a clean driving record, here's the proposal.

 It goes without saying that the first 12 months as a solo driver is difficult for new P platers. There is also no illusion that P platers have gained somewhat unfair negative attention in the driving community. Being classed as "hoons" and targeted by police and other drivers makes already nervous and undeveloped probationary drivers feel inadequate to the road. All of which because of the demographic a small percentage of P platers reside to by testing the limits.

Now, each state enforces its own restrictions on P-platers, and there are two rules that every state and territory has in common. Firstly, P-platers are not allowed to have any alcohol or drugs in their system while driving, just like all motorists. And secondly, P-platers cannot use a phone or mobile device while operating a motor vehicle. This is in conjunction with displaying P-plates prominently on the vehicle and always wearing a seat belt.

The current provisional restrictions are as follows: Victorian drivers on their P1 licence cannot carry more than one passenger aged between 16 and 21, unless they are transporting family members, and cannot tow anything unless they have an exemption. After 12 months, P-platers will graduate to a P2 licence that sees them able to carry as many passengers as their vehicle will allow. Also, four demerits being the threshold for all probationary drivers for their 4 years displaying P plates.

These are not the restrictions being reviewed, as they are reasonable and help develop a safe introduction to road usage. The main difference between Victoria and other states in Australia, WA or ACT for example, is the ability of freedom to decide choice of vehicle transportation.

"Victorians P-platers are restricted in the vehicles they can drive, which means no V8s, very few turbocharged or supercharged cars and some performance six-cylinder cars are banned as well." - VicRoads.

Provisional drivers in Victoria have been "green lighted" by Vicroads, as of July 2014, by allowing some Turbo and Supercharged vehicles. And although still basically useless, this demonstrates the flexibility of the system and the impact that unifying as a community can influence the legislation for restrictions.

The contention here is to eliminate the restriction of vehicle choice held by P2 drivers, (those holding their license for more than 12 months, without suspension) and leave the decision ultimately up to driver.

In summation, the current system needs an update in relation to other states who demonstrate a more reasonable system. The current Road Toll records for 2014-2015, stand as a equal statistic between all states in number of road fatalities, with a common denominator of drivers aged 17-25. In fact, over the last decade annual fatalities have decreased by 28.9% across Australia for drivers of all ages. This is because cars are manufactured safer to date, and the condition of roads are far better now. If road safety is the issue, then having a 5 star safety rated "higher performance" car with a strengthened chassis, is going to be safer than a beat-up 1990 Pulsar, not to mention the handing and control benefits from power-steering, traction control, and ABS brakes just to mention a few.

P2 drivers should be given the approval of VicRoads to demonstrate independence in terms of vehicle choice. Regardless of age, the first time driving a high powered vehicle is going to come with some challenges, as former provisional drivers will agree. The contention here is to give not only freedom to the driver, after demonstrating compliance with the road law after 12 months, but also ease said drivers into the world of higher powered vehicles.

A restriction could still be applied, in terms of power to weight ratios, but the current system has seriously underestimated the capacity some unrestricted vehicles have, and this specific legislation needs to be redempted and join the other states in an alliance of reasonable grounds for restriction. Let's push for a new system that P2 drivers can endulge.

VicRoads Head Office located in Kew: (03) 9854 2666. If you really want to make a change, call them up and voice your opinion as they wont take the issue serious enough.