About the target

Six months on P’s - zero harm

P plate driving is by far the riskiest period in a driver's life. A learner driver’s risk of crashing increases 20 to 30 times as soon as they pass their driving test and remains extremely high for the first six months.

The target learner drivers typically fixate on is 'passing the test'; this is understandable – they’re keen to get their driver's licence. This target becomes the focus of what they want to learn, and what they are taught. Because current driving tests don't assess learners' ability to drive safely on their own, learner drivers tend not to want to learn safe solo driving behaviours.

Much changes when learner drivers, parents/supervisors, and driving instructors direct their mind to a learning target that sits six months beyond the driving test: like a sportsperson preparing for the finals - rather than the first game of the season - players have to pace themselves, have quality training experiences, work hard, simulate real situations and learn endurance skills (mostly these are mental skills).

The sportsperson who thinks they're ready for the finals because they won their first game has grossly underestimated the task that lies ahead.

Many new drivers believe they are better at driving than they actually are; the six-month target gives them a much more accurate and realistic picture and helps build a foundation for lifelong safe driving.