Final draft of proposed legislation prepared; Graduated Driver Licencing program

September 29, 1998
(Government Services and Lands)

Ernest McLean, Minister of Government Services and Lands, said today that the final draft of proposed legislation for the Graduated Driver Licencing Program has been prepared and that government intends to introduce it during the Fall Session of the House of Assembly. The new program, once passed, will become effective January 1999.

Mr. McLean said key changes in the final draft relate to persons who are 17 years of age. He said that without these changes - which provide a one-time, special consideration for this age group - 17 year old drivers would be at a disadvantage.

The minister explained that a new driver entering the program on January 1, 1999 will graduate in two years at age 18, whereas, without these changes, a 17 year old entering the program at the same time would be 19 years of age before graduation.

Mr. McLean said: "Persons who will be 17 years of age before December 31, 1998 and who hold a beginner's permit before that date will be exempt from the graduated licencing program, if they pass their road test in 1999.

"Persons who are, or will be, 17 years of age by December 31, 1999, who have completed an approved driver training program, and who have passed their road test by December 31, 1999, will also be exempt from the program.

"Those who are, or will be 17 years by December 31, 1999 and who have passed the road test by December 31, 1999, but who have not completed a driver training program, will be placed in Level II of the graduated program.

"As of January 1, 2000, all applicants will be placed in the graduated program regardless of age or driving courses taken."

Mr. McLean said that the revised draft of the legislation also contains a provision to recognize experience gained by those who hold a regular valid driver's licence and who wish to obtain a motorcycle driver's licence.

These persons will be required to remain in Level I for a period of three months as compared to 12 months for a completely new driver. This period can be reduced to one month if an approved motorcycle course is completed.

The minister also said that in the interest of safety, a person learning to drive a motorcycle in Level I will not be permitted to carry an instructor on the same motorcycle. The learner must be accompanied by an authorized person on another motorcycle or in another motor vehicle.

Graduated licencing is a two-step, two-year process that is designed to permit novice drivers to acquire, on a gradual basis, the knowledge and skill needed to safely operate a passenger car, light truck or a motorcycle. The program applies to all drivers regardless of age since inexperience, not age, places drivers at a high risk of having an accident.

Mr. McLean said: "There is widespread public support for the graduated driver licencing program from the community at large; our police forces, our health and safety organizations and the insurance industry."

Over the next couple of months, driver examiners will be visiting schools to provide an overview of the program to new drivers and, at that time, they will also have printed materials to distribute.

Contact: Rick Callahan, Director of Communications, (709) 729-4860.

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CLASSES AND LEVELS - GRADUATED DRIVERS LICENCE PROGRAM

Note : A Class 5 licence is a licence to operate a passenger vehicle or a light truck.
A Class 6 licence is a licence to operate a motorcycle.

CLASS 5 - LEVEL I
Proposed Graduated Driver Licence Program - Passenger Car, Light Truck

Successful completion of knowledge, sign and vision tests are required to start Level I.
Novice drivers are eligible to apply for Level I when they are at least 16 years of age.
Novice drivers must remain in Level I for a minimum of 12 months. This can be reduced to eight months upon the successful completion of a recognized driver education program.
Novice drivers must be accompanied by a licenced driver with four years of driving experience.
Novice drivers must have zero per cent blood alcohol content when driving. The accompanying driver must comply with current .05 legislation. For novice drivers, there is zero tolerance for alcohol. If alcohol is detected, a novice driver's licence will be cancelled.
Cancellation will result upon a demerit point accumulation of six points (versus 12 for a fully graduated driver). Cancellation will result in a return to the beginning of Level I.
If a novice driver's licence is cancelled, he/she must wait two months to restart the current level. If the licence is cancelled again, he/she must wait four months to restart the current level. The third cancellation will result in a six month wait.
Novice drivers cannot apply for a commercial class driver licence.
Level I novice drivers are not permitted to drive between midnight and 5 a.m.
A sign must be displayed to show that a novice driver is operating a vehicle.
Successful completion of a road test, in traffic, is required to graduate to Level II.

CLASS 5 - LEVEL II
Proposed Graduated Driver Licence Program - Passenger Car, Light Truck

Novice drivers must remain in Level II for a minimum of 12 months
Level II novice drivers must be accompanied by a licenced driver with four years of driving experience if they drive between midnight and 5 a.m. If they require their vehicle for work purposes they must supply, upon demand, a letter from their employer certifying their employment and work hours.
Novice drivers must have zero blood alcohol content when driving. The accompanying driver must comply with current .05 legislation. If alcohol is detected, a novice driver's licence will be cancelled. Cancellation will result in a restart of the current level.
Cancellation will result upon a demerit point accumulation of six points (versus 12 for a fully graduated driver) Cancellation will result in a restart of the current level.
If a novice driver's licence is cancelled, he/she must wait two months to restart the current level. If the licence is cancelled again, he/she must wait four months to restart the current level. The third cancellation will result in a six month wait.
For Level II novice drivers, passengers are permitted, but they are restricted to number of seat belts available in the vehicle.
Novice drivers cannot apply for a commercial class of licence.

CLASS 6 - LEVEL I
Proposed Graduated Driver Licence Program - Motorcycle

Successful completion of a road test, in traffic, is required to graduate to Level II. (Skills, knowledge and vision tests were required to enter Level I.)
Novice drivers are eligible to apply for Level I when they are at least 16 years of age.
Novice drivers must remain in Level I for a minimum of 12 months. This can be reduced to eight months upon the successful completion of a recognized motorcycle training program.
Novice drivers must be accompanied by a licenced motorcycle driver on another cycle, or in another vehicle.
The novice driver must have a zero per cent blood alcohol content when driving. If alcohol is detected, a novice driver's licence will be cancelled. Cancellation will result in a restart of a level.
Cancellation will result upon a demerit point accumulation of six points (versus 12 for a fully graduated driver). Cancellation will result in a restart of Level I.
If a novice driver's licence is cancelled, he/she must wait two months to restart the current level. If the licence is cancelled again, he/she must wait four months to restart the current level. The third cancellation will result in a six month wait.
Novice drivers are not permitted to have passengers on their motorcycles.
Novice drivers cannot apply for a commercial class of licence.
Novice drivers are not permitted to drive one half hour before sunset and one half hour after sunrise.
Novice drivers are not permitted to drive on a highway where the speed limit is above 80 km/h.

Class 6 - LEVEL II
Proposed Graduated Driver Licence Program - Motorcycle

The novice driver must remain in Level II for a minimum of 12 months.
The novice driver must have zero per cent blood alcohol content when driving.
Cancellation will result upon a demerit point accumulation of six points (versus 12 for a fully graduated driver). Cancellation will result in a restart of the current level.
If alcohol is detected, a novice driver's licence will be cancelled. Cancellation will result in a restart of the current level.
If a novice driver's licence is cancelled, he/she must wait two months to restart the current level. If the licence is cancelled again, he/she must wait four months to restart the current level. The third cancellation will result in a six month wait.
The novice driver cannot apply for a commercial class of licence.
Novice drivers are not permitted to drive a motorcycle between midnight and 5 a.m.
Level II novice drivers are permitted to have passangers on their motorcycles.

1998 09 29 12:25 p.m.

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