Media Release - 27 June 2007

Parents can reduce P-Plate Crashes

Monash University Accident Research Centre (MUARC) is targeting parents of P-plate drivers in a new campaign designed to reduce death and injury on Australian roads.

It is the first time in Australia P-plate driver safety information has been targeted specifically at parents.

Research shows probationary drivers are more involved in crashes than any other driving group and are up to an estimated 33 times more likely to have a crash than learner drivers.

Going Solo – A resource for parents of P-plate drivers was devised by MUARC Senior Research Fellow, Dr Jennie Oxley and her research team.

It informs parents about P-plate driver crash risks and strategies they can use to promote safe driving.

The booklet, available across Australia from today, highlights nine key risk factors, including driving with friends, driving at night, using phones or a CD player and driving when tired or under the influence of alcohol or drugs.

Parents are being encouraged to sign a Vehicle Access Agreement with their son or daughter.

The formal agreement sets out conditions and restrictions for the first twelve months of the P-plate period, limiting the time a young person can drive and the number of passengers they carry.

In the first three months of gaining a probationary licence, the driver would agree to only drive between 6am and 10pm and not carry any passengers aged 16 to 23.

After seven months experience they would be allowed to drive from 6am to Midnight and carry a maximum of one young passenger.

Dr Oxley said parents had a major role to play and communication was the key.

“Parents who continue to discuss safe driving with their P-plater could help prevent crashes and potentially even save lives,” said Dr Oxley.

“Driving with a car full of friends increases the fatal crash risk by four times, compared with driving alone.

“P-plate drivers have over thirty per cent of their crashes at night even though only nine per cent of their driving occurs during that time,” she said.

Statistics show:

• The rate of fatalities for 17-25 year old drivers is 13.4 per 100,000 population, which is more than twice the rate when all age groups are considered and the highest of any age group.
• Road users aged 17-25 represent 25 per cent of fatalities, but only account for 12 per cent of the population.

The Going Solo booklet has been produced by the Monash Accident Research Centre (MUARC), one of the world’s leading injury prevention research centres, with support from ExxonMobil Australia group of companies.

ExxonMobil has supported MUARC to promote injury prevention and safety education for around fifteen years. It initiated the project with MUARC when it became aware of the information gap for parents of P-plate drivers.

The Going Solo brochure is available free at all Mobil Service Stations or downloaded from the MUARC website www.monash.edu.au/muarc/goingsolo.html

Dr Jenni Oxley is available for interview on 0439 885 112 or 9905 4374.

For further information contact Colin Vickery on 0419 302 520, or John Watts on +61 3 9905 9201 or 0448 574 148.