Provisional licences in NSW: everything L-platers and P-platers need to know
The open road ahead and the world at your feet. That’s what getting your first driver’s licence can feel like, however the processes leading up to that point can be a little less romantic.
In New South Wales, we use what’s known as a graduated licence system, meaning there are multiple stages in the transition from learning to drive a car, to being fully licenced to do so.
Between these steps are classes of provisional licence which come with more restrictions in place to keep drivers, their passengers, and other motorists safe while the driver hones their skills.
What are the different driving licences?
All car drivers begin their journey with a learner permit, more colloquially known as their ‘L plates’, which can be had by passing the Driver Knowledge Test.
Restrictions on L platers are considerable, with all of their drives needing to be supervised and logged by a fully licenced passenger.
Once an L plater has accrued the necessary hours of driving, and passed the required tests (the Hazard Perception Test), followed by The Driving Test, they graduate to their P1 licence – colloquially referred to as their ‘red Ps’.
This is by far the largest single transition for new motorists, as P1 holders are allowed to operate a vehicle without supervision – many will find themselves driving a car alone for the first time in their life at this point.
A P2 (or ‘green Ps’) licence sees slight tweaks to what drivers are permitted to do as they move closer to an unrestricted licence. These include a higher maximum permitted speed and no passenger restrictions, but still bans the use of hands-free mobile phone use and has a strict 0.0 blood alcohol content (BAC) limit.
Drivers qualify for a P2 licence after holding their P1 licence for 12 months, with no additional testing required.
The move to a full licence – no fancy nickname here – introduces a few ‘perks’, as you’re seen to have proven yourself a responsible motorist by this stage after having held your P2 for at least 24 months (again, no further testing is required).
Full licence holders can drive after consuming alcohol as long as their BAC is under 0.05, can operate hands-free functions of a mobile phone, and can drive to whatever signposted speed limit they encounter.
What other restrictions do L- and P-platers face?
In the period where drivers are learning to control a vehicle and becoming familiar with how to negotiate different traffic and road conditions, the graduated licence system aims to remove distraction, excessive speed (and sometimes vehicle performance) and other factors that might overwhelm an inexperience driver.
The table below gives further details on what L- and P-plater drivers can and can’t do:
Driving tips for new P-Plate drivers
Young drivers are at the greatest risk of dying or being seriously injured in the first six to 12 months of probationary driving. In fact, the statistics show that they are exposed to more than three times the risk of a serious crash compared with an experienced driver.
By applying the driving tips below, you can reduce this risk:
Attentiveness
Remaining alert to what's going on around you will allow you to recognise and act to avoid potential crash scenarios.
Scanning the road
Many crashes happen because drivers only watch the car or road immediately in front of them. Always scan as far ahead as you can so you have more time to recognise potential hazards and take evasive action.
Buffer zones
It can take 45 metres to stop a car that is travelling 60kmh. That distance increases to 54m in the wet (or when the road is slippery) – that’s longer than an Olympic-sized swimming pool.. Count out a distance of three seconds from the car in front of you (more in wet conditions) to ensure a safe gap at any speed.
Driving to conditions
Rain, wind, glare, gravel and night driving pose unique challenges you must account for to ensure you stay safe. Slow down, always drive within your comfort zone and observe advisory signs on the road; they're there for a reason.
Blind spots
To avoid blind spots when changing lanes, always check over your shoulder first. You can help reduce blind spots by ensuring your side mirrors are turned out far enough to see the entire width of the lanes beside you – you don’t need to see your door handles.
Driving tired, intoxicated, drugged or distracted
Drinking alcohol and driving is not on for P-plate drivers, however some prescription drugs, tiredness or having your mind elsewhere can also reduce attentiveness and slow your reflexes.
Plan your route
If you’re busy working out where you're going while driving you won’t have as much mental capacity left to drive safely and attentively. A simple tip is to always program your route before you start the car.
If you need to change your route during your trip, pull over and stop the car to do this safely. Slowing right down will help you take in an unfamiliar environment and allow you to drive more safely.
Driving at night
Lack of visibility makes night driving more challenging than driving in clear daylight. Slow down if you're having trouble seeing. Shift your eyes away from oncoming headlights and adjust your rear vision mirror to reduce glare from behind.
Driving in the wet
Roads become more slippery when it rains, especially after a long spell of dry weather has allowed oil to build up on the surface. Reduce your speed when driving in the rain to account for the car’s reduced grip on the road – and your reduced visibility – and use the accelerator, brake and steering as smoothly as you can.
In these conditions, always increase the distance between you and other vehicles.
Country roads
Country roads can be narrow, winding and rough, and hold surprises such as kangaroos, oncoming trucks and potholes. Adhere to advisory signs, don't be tempted to speed, avoid the edges of roads (but be ready to slow down and move over for passing vehicles), and always stay alert, even if the road looks quiet.
Seat belts
Seat belts will limit your contact with the car's interior on impact and spread the forces over more of your body to protect against neck injury. Without a seatbelt and airbag, you can be killed in a head on collision at just 29km/h.
Understanding P-Plate restrictions
Special licence conditions for new drivers in NSW place restrictions on speed, passenger number, vehicle type, and prohibit the use of mobile phones. The conditions and restrictions that apply to learner or provisional licence holders do not change when they travel outside NSW.
Speed
- Provisional P1 and learner drivers must not exceed 90km/h
- Provisional P2 drivers must not exceed 100km/h
- Provisional and learner drivers who exceed the speed limit by more than 30km/h face licence confiscation by police and immediate suspension
- P1 and learner drivers penalised for speeding will lose their licence for at least three months
- P2 drivers penalised twice for speeding will lose their licence for at least three months
Vehicle restrictions
- P1 and P2 drivers are banned from driving high-performance vehicles with:
- Power to tare mass (PMR) ratios of greater than 130kW per tonne
- Modified engines that need to be approved by an engineer
- Other high performance classifications
More information on prohibited vehicles, and a list of approved vehicles is available on the Service NSW website.
Passenger limits
- P1 drivers under 25 are not permitted to drive with more than one passenger under 21 between 11.00pm and 5.00am.
- P1 or P2 drivers who are issued a new licence after being disqualified from driving, will only be allowed to carry one passenger for 12 months.
There is more information about passenger conditions on the Service NSW website.
Zero blood alcohol
Provisional and learner drivers must have a zero blood alcohol concentration, which means no alcohol before driving, even if it’s the night before.
Mobile phones
P1, P2, and learner licence holders must not use a mobile phone while driving, including via Bluetooth hands-free or speaker mode, for the viewing or sending of text messages, or to use any other phone function.
P1, P2 and learner licence holders must be parked out of the line of traffic to use a mobile phone.
Learner and P1 drivers and riders caught illegally using a mobile phone will lose four demerit points, (over the demerit point threshold) and result in a three-month licence suspension.
Additional conditions
Information about additional P1 and P2 licence conditions regarding towing, seatbelts and automatic and manual vehicles is available on the Service NSW website.
