Photo: BlackCab, CC BY-SA 3.0, via Wikimedia Commons
New drivers in Victoria are three times more likely to be in a casualty crash than experienced drivers, and the first year on P plates carries the highest crash risk you will ever have. This guide covers Chapter 3 of the Road to Solo Driving handbook (Managing risk). It is for new Victorian drivers and their parents, and pulls out the risks that matter most and the specific habits that cut them.
Key facts from the Victorian handbook
- New drivers: three times more likely to be in casualty crashes than experienced drivers.
- 120 hours of learner practice gives a crash risk about 30% lower than about 50 hours.
- A BAC of .05 doubles crash risk. L and P drivers must have zero BAC.
- Speed is a factor in almost 20% of fatal crashes. In a 60 km/h zone, crash risk doubles for every 5 km/h over the limit.
- P drivers with multiple passengers have four times the fatal crash risk (Rules for P drivers brochure).
- Half of all probationary night-time crashes happen on Friday and Saturday nights.
The crashes new Victorian drivers have most
The handbook lists four crash types that are common for new solo drivers:
- Losing control and running off the road, most often on straight roads.
- Turning right at an intersection in front of an oncoming vehicle.
- Being hit by a right-turning vehicle at an intersection.
- Rear-ending the car in front.
The causes are not poor car control. They are misjudged gaps, speed too high for conditions, following too closely, slow hazard spotting, distraction and looking no further than the car ahead.
Risk by risk: what to do
| Risk | What the handbook says | What to do |
|---|---|---|
| Alcohol and drugs | Zero BAC for L and P drivers, no exceptions. Alcohol can still be in your system the next morning. Mixing alcohol, drugs or medicines is worse than any one alone. | Plan a sober driver, stay over, get picked up or use public transport or a taxi. Ask a pharmacist about medicines. |
| Speed | Less time to scan, spot hazards and decide. | Drive a little under the limit. Cover the brake near pedestrians, cyclists and turning cars. |
| Phones and devices | L and P drivers must not touch any device or use voice commands. | Phone off and out of reach. Set up audio and navigation before moving. |
| Passengers | P1 limit: one passenger aged 16 to under 22. | Whatever your licence, avoid more than one passenger in your first solo year. Ask passengers to be quiet at busy moments. |
| Other distractions | Eating, smoking, makeup, reaching for a bag, being upset. | Do it before you drive or after you park. |
| Fatigue | Higher risk 10 pm to 6 am, after 17 hours awake or after 2 hours non-stop. | Sleep is the only cure. A 15 minute power nap helps; coffee does not fix it. |
| Seatbelts | People thrown from cars are up to 25 times more likely to be killed. | Belt on every trip. You are fined if passengers are not restrained. |
| Vehicle condition | Tyre problems are a common cause of defect-related crashes. | Check tyre pressure and tread. Get regular services. |
More on the rules behind these: zero alcohol for learners and P platers, Victoria phone rules for L and P platers, driver fatigue and seatbelts and child seats.
Fatigue warning signs: stop driving if you notice
- repeated yawning
- drifting across the lane
- eyes closing or vision going fuzzy
- trouble keeping your head up
- speed creeping up or down without you meaning it
- not remembering the last few kilometres
- daydreaming.
Seven ways to cut your crash risk in your first months on Ps
The handbook’s “Keys to reducing your risk of a crash” are aimed at the first six months on P plates.
- Choose when and where to drive. Avoid very late nights, city peak hour, freeways, rural roads, wet weather, fog, snow, ice and gravel until you have built experience.
- Slow down. Going 2 or 3 km/h slower will not delay you, and it buys reaction time.
- Give yourself space. Two seconds is the minimum gap. Three or four seconds is safer for new drivers, at night, in the wet, with a heavy load or on gravel.
- Think ahead. Scan well down the road, to the sides and in your mirrors. Plan the trip and use familiar routes.
- Keep night driving to a minimum in your first few months.
- Practise on country roads (sealed, unsealed, gravel) while you are still a learner.
- Drive cooperatively. Indicate early, let others merge, keep intersections clear, stay left unless overtaking.
Worked example: the two-second check
The car ahead passes a power pole. Count “one thousand and one, one thousand and two”. If you reach the pole before you finish, you are too close. Ease off until you can count to three or four.
Choosing a safer first car
Larger cars with more safety features protect occupants better in real crashes. The two features to look for are airbags and Electronic Stability Control (ESC), which can only be fitted when the car is made. Check a car’s safety rating on the TAC’s How Safe Is Your Car site or with ANCAP (the Australasian New Car Assessment Program) before you buy. Also remember P drivers cannot drive a probationary prohibited vehicle (power to mass ratio over 130 kW per tonne, or a performance-modified engine). See Victorian P1 and P2 rules.
Dealing with aggressive drivers
- Do not react, avoid eye contact and give them space.
- If someone tailgates, hold a steady speed or let them pass.
- If confronted, keep doors and windows locked and stay in the car.
- If you are very worried, drive to the nearest police station.
Eco-driving (saves fuel and is safer)
- Drive smoothly. Fast take-offs can use up to 60% more fuel.
- At 110 km/h a car uses up to 25% more fuel than at 90 km/h.
- Keep tyres at the pressure in the owner’s manual.
If you break down
Before a long trip, check fuel, oil, water and tyre pressures, including the spare. Keep a high-visibility vest, safety markers and a torch in the car. Breakdown lanes are for breakdowns only, so use a rest area for calls and toilet stops.
- Pull over somewhere safe, such as an emergency breakdown area, as far left as you can.
- Turn on your hazard lights, and your headlights if light is poor.
- Call roadside assistance, or use a roadside emergency phone. Most Victorian freeways have Help Phones that work 24 hours a day.
- Get out on the passenger side if you can, check for traffic, and stand well clear of the road, behind a safety barrier if there is one. Do not cross the road.
- If it is not safe to get out, stay in the car with your seatbelt on.
- On a freeway or country road, do not change a tyre yourself. Wait for roadside assistance, and expect help to take longer in the country.
Passing someone else’s breakdown? The handbook advises slowing to about 30 km/h below the speed limit.
Common questions
Why are new P platers so likely to crash?
Lack of experience in spotting and responding to hazards, not poor car control. The handbook says crash risk is highest when you first start on Ps and falls slowly over the following years.
How much does speeding increase crash risk?
In a 60 km/h zone, your crash risk doubles for every 5 km/h over the limit.
Is it safe to have friends in the car on my Ps?
On P1 you can carry only one passenger aged 16 to under 22, unless an exemption applies. The handbook advises against carrying more than one passenger in your first solo year whatever your licence.
Does coffee stop tiredness?
No. The handbook says only sleep fixes fatigue. Stop and nap if tired.
What should I do if a tyre blows out?
Grip the wheel firmly, take your foot off the accelerator and brake gently once the car is under control. See car emergencies: tyre blow-outs and brake failure.
How do ABS brakes feel in an emergency stop?
Keep firm pressure on the pedal. Vibration and a pulsing pedal are normal when ABS works.
Related guides
Sources
- Department of Transport and Planning, “Road to Solo Driving” handbook, Chapter 1 The challenges of driving and Chapter 3 Managing risk (edge.sitecorecloud.io)
- Department of Transport and Planning, “Rules for P drivers” (March 2023) (edge.sitecorecloud.io)