Young drivers
In July 2007 the Queensland Government introduced the graduated licensing system to reduce fatalities on our roads, particularly among young motorists.Young drivers aged 17–24 years of age are twice as likely to be involved in fatal crashes than drivers aged between 25–59 years of age. That's why the Queensland Government introduced new laws to change the licensing system for young drivers.
The changes that have been introduced since July 2007 include:
- The minimum learner age was lowered to 16 years of age and the learner licence period was extended to a minimum period of one year.
- Learner drivers under 25 years of age must gain 100 hours of certified supervised driving experience recorded in a learner logbook before being eligible to apply for a provisional licence. Note: Learner drivers and their supervisors may choose to use the online electronic logbook* system that has been developed by RACQ to record the required 100 hours driving experience.
- Mobile phone use, including hands-free, blue-tooth accessories and loud-speaker functions, has been restricted for learner and P1 provisional licence holders under 25 years of age.
- Supervisors and passengers of learner drivers under 25 years of age cannot use a phone that is on loudspeaker but can use a hand held or hands-free mobile phone where only a one-way conversation can occur and not distract the driver.
- To be eligible to apply for a motorbike learner licence, you must have held a provisional or open licence of another class for at least one year in the last five years.
- A two-phased P1 and P2 provisional licence system has been introduced.
- L-plates (a black L on a yellow background) and P-plates (a red plate for P1 and green plate for P2) are now compulsory.
- Peer passenger restrictions were introduced — P1 provisional licence holders under 25 years of age can only carry one passenger aged under 21 years between 11pm and 5am.
- High-powered vehicles are restricted for provisional drivers under 25 years of age.
- Drivers must pass a hazard perception test to progress from a P1 to a P2 or open licence (dependant on age).
- Restrictions, such as no late night driving, have been introduced for disqualified and suspended young drivers.
Instructions for getting a licence (from learner to open), and advice for supervising a learner driver are included in this website.
Please contact us for more information about licensing laws and regulations.
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Last updated 13 July 2009
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