Ministerial Statement - New graduated drivers licencing program

The following statement was issued today by Ernie McLean, Minister of Government Services and Lands. It was also read in the House of Assembly:

I am pleased to announce that government intends to introduce legislation to implement a graduated drivers licence program for novice drivers beginning January 1, 1999.

The intent of this program is consistent with the unanimous recommendations made by the Select Committee of this House on Property and Casualty Insurance. Government recognizes the comprehensive work that has been done by the select committee. I want to assure committee members that this is but the first of several steps government intends to take with respect to this report. Further action will be announced during the course of our review.

Graduated licencing is a two-step, two-year process that is designed to help novice drivers acquire, on a gradual basis, the knowledge and skill needed to safely operate their passenger vehicles, light trucks or motorcycles.

This new program will give novice drivers experience under conditions that reduce the risk of collisions. The system is described as graduated because there are two licencing levels. When you have a Level I or Level II licence you must follow all of the laws of the road and the special rules for each level.

Graduated licencing applies to all novice drivers regardless of age. Inexperience, not age, places novice drivers in higher risk for collisions. As a group, novice drivers are five times more likely to be involved in collisions. Newfoundland and Labrador statistics show - over a six year period - that 16.5 per cent of all fatal collisions involved drivers with less than two years of experience. However, this group accounts for only five per cent of the driving population.

To enter Level I, novice drivers - at least 16 years of age - will be required to pass a written test and a vision test. Novice motorcyclists will also have to pass a skills test.

Level I lasts for 12 months. This may be reduced to eight months if the novice driver successfully completes a recognized driver education program. After the required time is spent in Level I, a road test in traffic must be successfully completed to graduate to Level II. Drivers must spend a minimum of 12 months at Level II, where the learning process continues, but with reduced restrictions. All novice drivers must complete a minimum of 20 months training.

For novice drivers, there is zero tolerance for alcohol. If alcohol is detected, a novice driver's licence will be cancelled. Cancellation will result in a restart of the current level. Other restrictions deal with such areas as defined driving hours; the number of passengers allowed in or on a vehicle, the driving experience of accompanying drivers; and the highways on which novice drivers can travel. The documents I am tabling today will provide members with complete details of our proposed graduated licencing program. I am convinced that this program will save lives and make our roads safer.

Other Canadian provinces have already taken such action. Ontario and Nova Scotia introduced graduated programs in 1994. More recently, New Brunswick and Quebec have introduced programs. British Columbia has announced a program which will take effect in 1999 and Prince Edward Island has a form of licencing which incorporates many of the aspects of a graduated program.

An interim Ontario report shows that collisions by novice drivers were down by a dramatic 31 per cent. By contrast, only a four per cent drop was observed for Ontario's general driving population over the same period.

From Ontario's perspective, graduated licencing has meant 900 fewer visits to hospital emergency rooms; 2,000 fewer days in hospital for collision victims; 800 fewer ambulance calls; and, 13,000 fewer hours of police time required to investigate collisions.

The Ontario government estimates that $34 million has been saved as a result of reductions in emergency room visits; hospital days; ambulance calls; police time; and, property damage to motor vehicles.

I would like to quote from the select committee's report: "New drivers, regardless of age, are significantly over represented in motor vehicle accidents. Teenage drivers, in particular, are involved in a disproportionately high number of crashes as compared to other age groups. Furthermore, the level of damage resulting from these accidents tends to be much more severe than the average. As well, statistics show that older drivers who are newly-licensed are also in a high collision risk category. Inexperience, combined with risk-taking behaviour, contribute to high accident rates. Graduated licencing is a solution to this problem."

There is widespread public support for a graduated licencing program - from the community at large; our police forces, our health and safety organizations and the insurance industry and I welcome representatives of these groups who are in the House with us today.

As I stated earlier, government plans to introduce this program in January 1999. Drivers who already hold or receive a beginner's licence prior to January 1, 1999, will continue under the old system.

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