Learner driver speed change from 80 to 90kms/hour

Questions and answers

What is the speed limit change for learner divers and motorcyclists?

The speed limit change for learner drivers and motorcyclists will increase from 80 to 90 kilometres
per hour.


When will the speed limit change?

Monday 1 J uly 2013.


Why is the speed limit changing?

The speed limit is changing to allow learner drivers and motorcyclists to gain more experience on
higher speed roads while under their learner licence conditions.

In 2011, the Auditor-General completed a review of young driver safety in NSW, and one of the
recommendations of the review was for Transport for NSW to review the learner speed limit and
consider increasing it to 90km/h.

This change will complete the Auditor Generals recommendation.


Will this speed limit change make NSW roads less safe?

No. Supervised learner drivers have one of the lowest crash rates of any driver group (as shown by
the graph below) and learners and their supervisors will be encouraged to progressively work up to
this maximum speed as the learner develops driving experience behind the wheel.

The key risk time for young drivers is in their first few months of unsupervised driving (also see the
graph below) and this speed limit change will provide learners with more experience at higher
speeds.

Transport for NSW will continue to monitor learner driver crashes to ensure the change does not
have a negative impact on road safety.









Does the speed limit change apply to all learners or only learners that get their licence after 1
July 2013?

The new speed limit will apply to both current and new learner drivers and riders.


Will the current L plates change as a result of the speed limit change?

Yes. The current 80 km/h image will be replaced with a 90 km/h image.


Will it be an offence for learner drivers/motorcyclists to use old L plates with the 80 km/hour
image after 1 July 2013?

No, it wont be an offence.

The speed limit printed on the L plate is for information only and has no legal impact.


Will it be an offence for learner drivers to use L magnetic plates that dont show the speed
limit on them?

No, it wont be an offence.

The speed limit printed on the L plate is for information only and has no legal impact.


When will the new L plates be available in registries/Service NSW centres?

From J uly 2013.

Registries and Service Centres will use up all old L plate stock and not destroy or pulp it.








Who is changing all of the website imagery and content/marketing collateral/curriculum etc to
reflect the new speed limit change?

Transport for NSW and RMS are progressively making changes to reflect the new maximum 90 km/h
speed limit for learner licence holders.

Some documents will change when they are next due for a major reprint and this may be after 1 J uly
2013.


Has the learner log book been updated to reflect the new speed limit change?

Yes and it will be available from 1 J uly 2013.


Are there any changes to provisional driver speed limits?

No. This speed limit change is for learners only.


What are the penalties for learners if they are caught speeding?

The minimum number of demerit points for a speeding offence committed by a learner is four.

This means that a learner licence will be suspended for three months for any speeding offence
because they only have four points on their licence.

The following fines and demerit points apply from 1 J uly 2013 for learner driver speeding offences:

Offence Fine Demerit Points
Exceeds speed limit by 10 km/h and under $106 Four
Exceeds speed limit by over 10 km/h $248 Four
Exceeds speed over by 20 km/h $425 Four
Exceeds speed over by 30 km/h $815 Five
Exceeds speed over by 45 km/h $2197 Six

* Note that higher demerit point levels and fines apply for offences in school zones.

An additional three-month suspension applies to learners who exceed the speed limit by more than
30 km/h, and a six-month suspension applies to learners who exceed the speed limit by more than
45 km/h.

Police can also apply these suspensions and confiscate learner licences at the roadside.