VIC: State standing firm on P-plate passengers push

AAP General News (Australia)
12-11-2007
VIC: State standing firm on P-plate passengers push

MELBOURNE, Dec 11 AAP - The Victorian government is again resisting calls for passenger
limits on P-plate drivers after a single car road smash on Sunday killed four teenagers.

Acting Premier Rob Hulls today said the government would continue to focus on driver
education, training and campaigns against speed.

"In some circumstances the number of passengers that P-plate drivers can take has been
reduced, but we don't intend to have an overall reduction for all P-plate drivers in relation
to the number of passengers they can take," Mr Hulls told reporters.

"We believe that the measures of education, driver experience, and the like, does send
a very strong message that you need to get as much experience as you can before you get
your licence and we will continue with the message in relation to speed."

The RACV has renewed its call for passenger limits on young drivers after four young
men were killed in a fiery high-speed smash while racing on the West Gate Freeway.

Currently, passenger limits are only imposed on young P-platers if they have had their
licence suspended during their first year of driving.

"Any death on the road is one death too many and my heart goes out to the families
of the people who were recently killed in a very tragic incident," Mr Hulls said.

"Obviously there has to be further investigation in relation to the cause of that so
I don't want to pre-empt that outcome but my message to to young people is ... speed kills,
drag racing is illegal."

AAP cmb/gfr/maur/bwl

KEYWORD: CRASH HULLS

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