wollondilly

 LEARNER drivers are thumbing their noses at the law and taking to the roads unaccompanied in their thousands.

Statistics provided by Transport and Main Roads show more than 10,000 learner drivers were caught driving alone last year, of a total 11,241 who accumulated demerit points.

Another 900 lost their licence altogether before even qualifying to drive alone, after racking up more than four demerit points.

A Transport and Main Roads spokesman said most offenders (69 per cent) were not teenagers but learners aged 20 years and more.

Queensland president of the Australian Driver Trainers Association, Paul Kennedy, said he was not surprised so many older learner drivers were taking to the roads unsupervised.

He said one driver who came to him for lessons in 2007 had been driving unsupervised for 15 years and only been pulled over once.

"They think because they look older they won't get stopped, especially if they take the L-plates off," Mr Kennedy said. "The attitude is 'the odds of getting caught are low' and the fact of the matter is, they probably are."

He said other learners resorted to driving alone out of "sheer frustration with the 100-hour logbook".

.Learner drivers ignore the law and take to the roads alone Robyn Ironside From: The Courier-Mail April 11, 2011 12:00AM 72 commentsIncrease Text SizeDecrease Text SizePrintEmail Share

Add to DiggAdd to del.icio.usAdd to FacebookAdd to KwoffAdd to MyspaceAdd to NewsvineWhat are these? BEHIND THE WHEEL: Learner drivers are supposed to be accompanied as they learn. Source: The Courier-Mail

LEARNER drivers are thumbing their noses at the law and taking to the roads unaccompanied in their thousands.

Statistics provided by Transport and Main Roads show more than 10,000 learner drivers were caught driving alone last year, of a total 11,241 who accumulated demerit points.

Another 900 lost their licence altogether before even qualifying to drive alone, after racking up more than four demerit points.

A Transport and Main Roads spokesman said most offenders (69 per cent) were not teenagers but learners aged 20 years and more.

Queensland president of the Australian Driver Trainers Association, Paul Kennedy, said he was not surprised so many older learner drivers were taking to the roads unsupervised.

He said one driver who came to him for lessons in 2007 had been driving unsupervised for 15 years and only been pulled over once.

"They think because they look older they won't get stopped, especially if they take the L-plates off," Mr Kennedy said. "The attitude is 'the odds of getting caught are low' and the fact of the matter is, they probably are."

He said other learners resorted to driving alone out of "sheer frustration with the 100-hour logbook".

"A lot of them have probably been on their learner's permit for a long time, struggling to get their 100 hours," Mr Kennedy said.

"They could alleviate that problem by applying for an exemption."

Transport Minister Annastacia Palaszczuk said it was disturbing older drivers, "the ones who should know better", made up the majority of those losing demerit points.

"Police are doing a good job cracking down on those who flout road rules," Ms Palaszczuk said.

"If there is one law that is drummed into learner drivers from the start, it's do not drive while unaccompanied."

She said penalties for learner driver infringements were under review by the State Government.

"Tougher penalties are one thing, of course, but losing one's life or causing serious injury to someone else should be reason enough to obey road rules."

Currently, any learner who racks up four or more demerit points stands to lose their licence for three months or be placed on a 12-month good driving behaviour agreement.

The 17- to 24-year age group remains the most over-represented in Queensland road toll statistics.

The age group accounted for more than one in five deaths (22.9 per cent) in the past year.
News Source CourierMail.com.au

 LEARNER drivers are thumbing their noses at the law and taking to the roads unaccompanied in their thousands.

Statistics provided by Transport and Main Roads show more than 10,000 learner drivers were caught driving alone last year, of a total 11,241 who accumulated demerit points.

Another 900 lost their licence altogether before even qualifying to drive alone, after racking up more than four demerit points.

A Transport and Main Roads spokesman said most offenders (69 per cent) were not teenagers but learners aged 20 years and more.

Queensland president of the Australian Driver Trainers Association, Paul Kennedy, said he was not surprised so many older learner drivers were taking to the roads unsupervised.

He said one driver who came to him for lessons in 2007 had been driving unsupervised for 15 years and only been pulled over once.

"They think because they look older they won't get stopped, especially if they take the L-plates off," Mr Kennedy said. "The attitude is 'the odds of getting caught are low' and the fact of the matter is, they probably are."

He said other learners resorted to driving alone out of "sheer frustration with the 100-hour logbook".

.Learner drivers ignore the law and take to the roads alone Robyn Ironside From: The Courier-Mail April 11, 2011 12:00AM 72 commentsIncrease Text SizeDecrease Text SizePrintEmail Share

Add to DiggAdd to del.icio.usAdd to FacebookAdd to KwoffAdd to MyspaceAdd to NewsvineWhat are these? BEHIND THE WHEEL: Learner drivers are supposed to be accompanied as they learn. Source: The Courier-Mail

LEARNER drivers are thumbing their noses at the law and taking to the roads unaccompanied in their thousands.

Statistics provided by Transport and Main Roads show more than 10,000 learner drivers were caught driving alone last year, of a total 11,241 who accumulated demerit points.

Another 900 lost their licence altogether before even qualifying to drive alone, after racking up more than four demerit points.

A Transport and Main Roads spokesman said most offenders (69 per cent) were not teenagers but learners aged 20 years and more.

Queensland president of the Australian Driver Trainers Association, Paul Kennedy, said he was not surprised so many older learner drivers were taking to the roads unsupervised.

He said one driver who came to him for lessons in 2007 had been driving unsupervised for 15 years and only been pulled over once.

"They think because they look older they won't get stopped, especially if they take the L-plates off," Mr Kennedy said. "The attitude is 'the odds of getting caught are low' and the fact of the matter is, they probably are."

He said other learners resorted to driving alone out of "sheer frustration with the 100-hour logbook".

"A lot of them have probably been on their learner's permit for a long time, struggling to get their 100 hours," Mr Kennedy said.

"They could alleviate that problem by applying for an exemption."

Transport Minister Annastacia Palaszczuk said it was disturbing older drivers, "the ones who should know better", made up the majority of those losing demerit points.

"Police are doing a good job cracking down on those who flout road rules," Ms Palaszczuk said.

"If there is one law that is drummed into learner drivers from the start, it's do not drive while unaccompanied."

She said penalties for learner driver infringements were under review by the State Government.

"Tougher penalties are one thing, of course, but losing one's life or causing serious injury to someone else should be reason enough to obey road rules."

Currently, any learner who racks up four or more demerit points stands to lose their licence for three months or be placed on a 12-month good driving behaviour agreement.

The 17- to 24-year age group remains the most over-represented in Queensland road toll statistics.

The age group accounted for more than one in five deaths (22.9 per cent) in the past year.
News Source CourierMail.com.au