A 'P-plate' curfew?

A 'P-plate' curfew?

By Sean Malloy

The Victorian chair of the Road Trauma Committee has called for curfews on "P-plate" drivers. Associate Professor Frank McDermott, writing in the Medical Journal of Australia, calls for a night-time curfew of provisional drivers from 10 or 11 p.m. to 5 a.m.

This is presented as the best solution to the high rate of probationary driver accidents. The majority of probationary drivers are young people, and most deaths of probationary drivers occur over the weekend.

McDermott rejects driver education as a solution, saying it increases accidents by encouraging more teenagers to obtain licences.

The proposed curfew coincides with an alarming trend of restrictions on the movement and rights of young people. Combined with economic conditions, this trend is forcing young people to remain dependent on their families, if they have one, for a longer period of time.

The lack of affordable, efficient, night-time public transport is a major contributor to the increase in numbers of young drivers. The lack of entertainment, meeting and recreation facilities contributes to "cruising" as a form of socialising for young people.

In most capital cities, night-time public transport has been cut back to almost useless levels. In Sydney plans to privatise public bus depots and railway maintenance depots have meant a drop in funding and services. Privatisation of services will result in increased fares and a further drop in services.

Conversely, over the last 10 years there has been massive expenditure by governments on freeways and roads.

Young people choose cars to travel on the weekend because cars are safer and far more reliable than public transport and cheaper than a taxi.

In Perth several assaults occurred on public train services after guards were removed as part of budget cuts. Instead of supporting a return of guards to trains, the police have been calling for a 10 p.m. curfew on everyone under 16 in the city area.

Similar curfews on young people in the streets have been imposed

in some South Australian towns.

The Victorian government is drafting legislation that will affect young people's right to move and associate freely. The existing Control of Weapons Act has already been widely used against young people on Friday and Saturday nights, dozens of young people being arrested for wearing studded belts, which police consider to be a weapon.

The new legislation will allow police to charge people for not proving their identity on demand, with or without suspicion of a crime. A similar law in South Australia accounts for 20% of charges.

From GLW issue 89