Inexperienced drivers carrying passengers

The mothers of the lads who died in Wales are campaigning for a change in the law to prevent new drivers from taking passengers under a certain age.
My grandson is soon to take his test and has had lots of driving experience, but as others have said, at nearly 18, parental control is limited. His older cousin has already set him a bad example, egged on by friends.

I believe the rules in Australia vary by state nanna8? In Northern Ireland new drivers must display an R (restricted) plate for a year, the restriction is keeping to a 45mph limit.
I’m not sure about legislation, as parents we can try to ensure any vehicle our children drive is as safe as possible, older cars tend not to be as crumple proof as newer ones.

It's the same in NZ nanna8. There are rules for young/new drivers but there are still tragic accidents.

I remember driving in Christchurch in 1997. There was a car coming in the other direction apparently driverless.
The young driver could barely reach
the steering wheel.

Before 2011 you could apply for a licence at age 15 which probably explains the small person behind the wheel.

There are still plenty of very young kids who pinch cars in their early teens and often have tragic accidents. Of course they don’t have any licenses at all. It is especially prevalent amongst a certain group which shall be nameless, girls and boys - maybe some sort of gang initiation thing.

I remember those four young boys who I think died in Wales when their car overturned and they landed in river upside down and actually Drowned….
There are far too many of these accidents and there was talk of legislation. They need to bring it in now……

nanna8

For a year after they get their driving license people are only allowed to have one passenger in their car here. They have red P plates . After a year they get green P plates for three years and they are allowed to take more passengers. Then they stop having to have P plates at , usually, 22 years old. They enforce it pretty strictly and kids lose their licenses if they disobey it or speed. Zero alcohol levels whilst on Ps.

I didn't know that, nanna8. That would mean they couldn't drive with both parents in the car or with two responsible adults.

I was a front seat passenger in a mini on the M1 being driven by a university friend of my sister. She and another boy were in the back. I was 15. No safety belts and him driving as fast as it would go.
He lost control of the steering and tried to slow down but it careered off and overturned on the hard shoulder.
We all survived, bar a broken arm.

We were afraid to tell our mother who was furious with us.
Our father had died in a plane crash.

I sometimes wonder about our luck that day. The driver was more concerned at having wrecked his mother's car.

That sounds like a very good plan, nanna8.
I know that some young people will carry on regardless of any law, but if only some are stopped by traffic police, maybe caution might prevail in others.
No one wants to spend time and money acquiring a license, only to lose it ...

The alcohol element is interesting nanna8. Often these accidents occur at night when I wonder if the passengers have been drinking even if the driver is stone cold sober.

For a year after they get their driving license people are only allowed to have one passenger in their car here. They have red P plates . After a year they get green P plates for three years and they are allowed to take more passengers. Then they stop having to have P plates at , usually, 22 years old. They enforce it pretty strictly and kids lose their licenses if they disobey it or speed. Zero alcohol levels whilst on Ps.

Perhaps some education in school aimed at the passengers as well as the driver would help. A few scary videos maybe.
I suspect that in most of these accidents the passengers haven't been sitting quietly encouraging the driver to drive carefully

Totally agree with MOnica when I left home at just 18 my parents had no idea what I was doing! I remember 9 of us getting in a Mini and driving round the East End!! Stupid yes but we thought it good fun.!

I wonder how they would police such legislation? I, too, got up to nonsense when I was a teenager. One boyfriend's car broke down on a level crossing! However there weren't as many cars about then and even fewer teenagers could afford cars.
A pupil at the school where I taught, died in a car accident. The car was full of boys, all sensible. The driver was sensible but inexperienced and skidded on ice. The boy who died was a shining boy. He was clever and kind and had such a wonderful future ahead of him- snuffed out.

Given that you can’t drive a car n the road until you’re 17 and it takes a bit of time to pass the test, what we’re talking about are people who are almost adult in law.

I don’t really think parents can forbid them to do anything much when they’re out and about.

I would support a probationary period with that green P sticker, that limited an inexperienced driver to themselves or a qualified adult. A short extension of the learning period.

So the child says I m just going round to Mary’s to watch Tv you know Mary’s solid so you say ok have a good evening but Jack comes round to Mary’s snd says look I ve got my licence let’s go for a spin !!!
How on earth can it be the parents fault Poohbear

I believe there is talk of bringing in such a law. Something along the lines of no passengers for the first year (or whatever). On Mumsnet they often cite the danger of older drivers but the majority of fatal accidents involve young male drivers.

It really doesn't help that in rural areas public transport is virtually nonexistent. Most parents provide a taxi service when they can but simple things like doing sports or having a job or any sort of socialising is impossible if parents aren't available and they can't drive themselves.
I do remember my son passing his test one afternoon and then going to collect his sister from school. My heart was in my mouth but if you let them learn to drive you have to trust them.
And being able to drive is an essential life skill these days.

I thought I'd heard of plans to introduce a law prohibiting young drivers carrying passengers (I assume non family) for a period of time after they had passed their test

I might have imagined it!

Perhaps there should be a law that prohibits the carrying of passengers for the first year or two after you've passed your driving test, especially if you are under the age of perhaps 21.

They can agree but still go out in a car full of their friends. Knowing that having a car full of your mates is an offence would surely be a more effective deterrent.

I'm not sure what sort of teenager you were but I'm with M0nica on this issue.

In rural areas nobody would even know!

Our son’s school forbade any pupils from driving friends, only siblings were allowed in their vehicles.
Obviously this was only enforceable in school but as parents we all supported the rule.

Quite, Lucky.

We know 3 families who have had this happen

Pooobear
With respect I think you’re naive if you think that teenagers are going to say oh, ok mum/dad
Once they leave the house you have no idea where they are going, unless the parents have a tracker on their phone.

I don't understand why this isn't being enforced by legislation.

We are talking about young adults, those under the age of 21 and whether we choose to accept it or not, telling a 20 year old who they can and can't go out with, and how many passengers they can have is unlikely to be sufficient.

They can agree but still go out in a car full of their friends. Knowing that having a car full of your mates is an offence would surely be a more effective deterrent.

You are assuming that the parents have been told their child is going out with an inexperienced driver. Many of these decisions to jump into cars as groups, or do this or that are made after the child has left the house on the spur of the moment.

The other thing is that it is fine for the parent to issue the instruction, but once a child is approx 15, there really is no way of stopping a child from ignoring anything their parent says.

My blood runs cold at the memory of some of the things I did as a child/young person that my parents would undoubtedly tried very hard to stop me from doing, but quite simply, they did not know.