Regional pilot of a restricted P1 provisional licence.

This paper outlines the pilot of a restricted provisional P1 driver licence which commenced in three remote areas of NSW in July 2013.
The restricted P1 provisional licence aims to facilitate access to services for young people in the selected pilot areas. The pilot is limited to three communities west of the Newell Highway, in remote areas of NSW, because it has been identified that alternative transport options and young driver support services may be limited in these areas, and access to opportunities may be dependent upon driver licensing. The pilot will run for 24 months.
Within the pilot, a restricted P1 provisional licence is available to learner drivers under 25 years of age that reside in pilot areas. The licence enables pilot participants to drive only for the purposes of work, education or medical appointments – restrictions which apply for the first six months of the provisional (P1) licence period.
In NSW, learner drivers are required to complete 120 hours of supervised driving before applying for a provisional driver licence. The restricted P1 provisional licence is available to learner drivers who have completed 50 hours of supervised driving (including 10 hours of night time driving) and pass the driving test. Those applying for a restricted P1 provisional licence still need to complete 12 months on a learner licence.
After successfully completing six months of driving with a restricted P1 provisional licence, participants will graduate to a provisional licence and no longer be restricted to driving only for the purposes of work, education or medical appointments.