Cars & Transportation

Should learner drivers not have high powered cars until a certain age?

Cars & Transportation

Posted by: Irsa

12th Jun 2009 11:47pm

Kids should not have high powered cars untill a certain age

Comments 102

Hol94
  • 30th Jan 2014 11:44pm

i dont agree with this. what about the families who can only afford one car and that car happens to be high powered? it really comes down to who the person behind the wheel is. Older people can speed and act up too?

Pig
  • 14th Sep 2013 12:00am

I think if young drivers are going to drive these cars then young drivers should be put thru a program such dangerous driving course or high performance car program for young drivers and let them see the damage it can do being stupid and reckless.

Hayls1975
  • 10th Sep 2013 07:02pm

Absolutely agree. I know.people who.have had their licence for.decades.and.still lose.control of their cars coz.they too powerful. Its truely a big topic i bring up whenever i hear of road accidents.

Horatio47
  • 28th Jul 2013 11:55am

There should be no high powered cars for the public at all. Simply put; there are no roads built for high powered cars in Urban areas and they are too dangerous in any body's hands.

Anonymous
  • 26th Jul 2013 10:11pm

yes I think kids who get there p licence should only be allowed to drive 4 cylinder vehicles

lee3
  • 23rd Jul 2013 10:17am

Agree, They should at least have 3 years of driving experience before they get a high powered car, there not ready for the power anytime sooner.

SteveC
  • 22nd Jul 2013 08:44pm

It's not really as simple as age, although maturity of course tends to be related to age. I've seen plenty of drivers in their thirties who are still absolute idiots on the road.
There is definitely a problem with the teenage/early-twenties mindset - so many think they're invincible, and the novelty of power under their right boot often clouds their thinking. Restricting power output certainly would go some way towards cutting down the deaths and injuries among younger drivers. The current "no turbo, no V8" rule is woefully inadequate in this regard. The average Commodore or Falcon has more than enough power for an inexperienced driver to get into serious trouble, but the laws don't prevent P-platers driving them.
Advanced driver courses are pretty good, and I think they probably should be compulsory (including a satisfactory assessment by the instructor) before a license is issued. But the shortcoming is that many of the skills learned are quickly forgotten if they're not practiced. That's why I recommend car clubs. Kids can get a basic competition license at the age of 12, which allows them to compete in low speed car-control trials. There's the fun of competition in a safe environment, plenty of experienced drivers more than willing to share their expertise, and skills are built up and regularly practiced, so that when the "kid" is old enough to be let loose on the roads, they've learned how to respect the limits of the car, how to handle various road conditions, and they have a legal outlet for their "need for speed".

Anonymous
  • 16th Jul 2013 12:43pm

Should have to do an defensive driving school course, and be at least 19 years of age.

tibi
  • 17th Jun 2013 12:15pm

Young man and women should not bee able to drive high powerd cars till they25 and had a advanced driving course

Anonymous
  • 27th May 2013 09:58am

I live in Victoria and the government is currently deciding whether to campaign for a law that prevents young people to achieve their full licence until the age of 25. I completely agree with this proposal as it would directly result in much less lives taken on our roads. With a BA limit of zero there will be less cases of drink driving, and in turn less accidents on our roads. Giving our young people more experience and developmental time on our roads can't possibly be a bad thing. Of course young people will be shattered, but hardly as shattered as a family who has lost a child on our roads!

PukPuk
  • 9th Apr 2013 08:52am

It is not always the large size or power of the car but the small size of the grey matter that needs to be controlled. These days kids learn that you only have to press the reset button on the gaming console and then subconciously drive the same way in the real world.

Anonymous
  • 21st Sep 2012 04:33pm

yeah that's true, because there are chances of mis-use.

Anonymous
  • 21st Sep 2012 12:24pm

It would be a good thing if this could be brought in as law, but it would be very difficult to police it as they can borrowed older mates or relatives cars as well.
But limiting their engine power is not going to prevent all their accidents but it sure would prevent some.
As we all have been teenagers/young adults and we all thought we were invincible.
So slowing them down a little is a very good start.

Anonymous
  • 21st Sep 2012 11:55am

i think all learner drivers should only be aloud a 4 cyclinder then when they have been driving for at lest 5 yrs go to 6 then after 10rys of good driving should you be aloud a high powered car.

Anonymous
  • 20th Sep 2012 10:14pm

Obviously, kids should learn from an early age that having a driver's license is a privilige and NOT a right (someone screwed-up a long time ago in that department) and that everyone is (or ought to be) responsible for their own actions. Certainly, that is easier said than done especially when Society is locked out of the Rule making and implementation (and subsequent court rulings) with any sensible debate absent or restricted. Also, kids at high school age should be involved with Advanced Driver Training courses and be shown the after-affects of irresponisble driver behaviour by way of supporting the SES in cleaning up accident scenes and getting a better grounding and understanding of how easy it is to kill yourself or your friends in just a split second of stupidity.
It really doesn't matter what the age of the person is these days, if they have no respect for anyone else let alone other road users, they will continue to do what they want to do until (like Bigfoot) they see the error of their ways.

Hoddo

Anonymous
  • 5th Sep 2012 12:37pm

Agree
there should be a certain afe limit for children to drive a car.
Under age car driving sometimes results in an accident.

Crocman
  • 3rd Sep 2012 11:29am

I Agree, but I don't think it's as simple as restricting v8s and turbo's. Maybe going off the power to weight ratio might work better, a 6 cylinder can produce around 200kw stock nowadays

Crocman
  • 3rd Sep 2012 11:27am

I Agree, but I don't think it's as simple as restricting v8s and turbo's. Maybe going off the power to weight ratio might work better, a 6 cylinder can produce around 200kw stock nowadays

mikulski
  • 28th Aug 2012 11:02pm

having once been a hoon i can tell you not much will change those that don't want to. they'll find something cool/appealing about anything they think they can get away with and worry about the consequences after. life lessons teaches you what you can and cant do, education goes a long way to help, I believe in school driver education with a good dose of actual crash footage as Caz mentioned would be the best start. just my 2bob

JJJ
  • 7th Aug 2012 08:32pm

The top speed of the base model ford fiesta is about 151kph, its not the cars its the drivers. What defines a high powered car anyway when you can do that speed in a little 4 cylinder if you hit a tree or a car going the other way your still likely to end up dead or killing someone or both. Better education is the only way to alleviate the risk that young drivers present to them self and others.

aj
  • 7th Aug 2012 07:25am

i think that young kids sould only have a v4 car max a v6 till they know what they r doing

Anonymous
  • 5th Aug 2012 09:43pm

you should have to do driver training before you can drive a high powered car

deonbchr
  • 29th Apr 2012 10:46pm

Disagree - I don't think that just because you reach a certain age it means that you can drive. There are many older people that can't drive either. An advanced driving course should be made a requirement to purchase a high performance vehicle. This will ensure that the person behind the wheel, irrespective of age, can handle the car.

Vicky
  • 20th Apr 2012 08:29pm

Yip, gotta agree. Hard one to pin though, as how many new drivers actually own their own car. When our neighbours son go his licence they phoned their insurance company and told them he would be driving and they said he couldnt drive one of the two vehicles due to its type and cc rating. Both their cars were pretty powerful though.

dave
  • 8th Apr 2012 11:42pm

should be 25 and older

Anonymous
  • 3rd Apr 2012 08:12pm

probably not worth saying but , The high power cars and bikes are not the issue the issue is the drivers, im an l plater and i am hoping to obtain my p's in the month of october this year , im not a stupid driver and i respect the car im driving whether it be my own car , familys or mates , yes i plan on going fast but only at the track. Im hoping on getting either a 6 turbo or an 8 , this does not me im going to instantly crash or be stupid , simply states that i am going to be much more aware and carefull on what i do with my car. Granted the fact there are some real idiots on the road especially kids who think they are invincable , however that dose not mean all of us are those kids.

maccaa
  • 16th Mar 2012 11:19pm

yeah i agree with you, that would stop them from showing off and driving like crazy, and it would stop alot off accidents

astra1977@bigpond.com
  • 16th Mar 2012 07:57pm

When I got my Licence in the late 90's, the restrictions imposed on P Plate drivers was alot stricter. Under 25s should not be allowed to drive anything larger than a 4 cylinder. Once you can learn to handle a car properly, then the restrictions should be lifted. Unfortunately far too many people think they are invincible and drive cars like they are Juan Pablo Montoya without the skill and become a Road Toll Statistic. Drivers Ed should also be compulsory. It is just far too easy to get you Licence

gill64
  • 14th Mar 2012 05:11am

it should be the same rules for motor cars as it is for motor bike riders they are unable to ride high powered bikes for the first 12monthsand they should have at least five years driving experience

annie
  • 5th Mar 2012 11:44am

i agree with this as when a young person gets their licence they should not drive high powered cars until a certain age.A young person needs to take time to understand the car they are driving and to get to know the roads.another problem is that young people like to show off in front off mates and have the music blaring

Kessa1959
  • 18th Feb 2012 03:55pm

I totally agree but to also include not only young drivers but those of any age who are newly licensed.

budah
  • 7th Feb 2012 09:24pm

I agree,young kids should not be allowed to drive Turbo petrol engines & v8 untill they are on open licence.Thet should also be made to take part in motor cycle learners course,because this will make them more aware of their surroundings & other drivers around them.

Anonymous
  • 1st Feb 2012 02:39pm

Its not just the young people, they should have drivers ed at school we pay enough school fees, I do believe the certain age but they can still speed and hoon in low powered cars,

hsimon
  • 24th Jan 2012 01:49pm

I dont understand why the need to restrict people who pass a motorcycle test and not those who pass a car test.

hards
  • 22nd Jan 2012 02:57pm

i think if they are going to get a high powered car that they need to driver training before allowed behind the wheel.

Anonymous
  • 10th Jan 2012 06:39am

I do agree to an extend, but either way you look at it, it is not really the age you have to be so worried about but more so the experience and level of driving in general, yeah ok you get the good drivers but you also get the bad at any age and the oly thing that can help htis situation is if the government start to encourage some sort of driving courses for teenagers and make it compulsory.

ree
  • 6th Jan 2012 03:38pm

Yes i agree kids should not be aloud to drive a high powered car until they are a couple years off there P plates,because they are still learning to dive.

Anonymous
  • 22nd Nov 2011 10:21am

yes like 25 years old

sophietyphoon
  • 1st Nov 2011 02:03am

Absolutely! Also, I don't think the drinking age and driving age should be the same. Either one or the other should be introduced first, (preferably driving as they need to work if they own a car) and then drinking when they are 20 or 21 (I don't know), but certainly, not licensed to drive the same day they are legally able to drink... that's just wrong.

Sambi2
  • 23rd Sep 2011 05:05am

While I completely agree with all of these points and learners (not just kids) should be limited in the power rating of their cars just as learner motorbikers I also think that it can be important to have a certain level of power. As a teenage learner i was a sensible driver (having 2 x chromosomes may have helped that...) and dad refused to let me buy anything under 1500cc because he believed that a car with a small amount of power may not be able to react fast enough to avoid a bad situation whereas a slightly more powerful one might just be able to.

codge
  • 21st Jul 2011 06:43am

you can drive down any street at 100kph in an old Volkswagen or Ford Fiesta and hit a tree and die. Power is not the problem. Lack of education, respect and meaningful laws are. Also, it should be mandatory to be taught professionally,not by your parents etc. Casey Stoner was winning international motor cycle races at 16. To deny him the right to drive a turbo Golf for example would be ridiculous. Disabling mobile phones in cars (we have the technology) would be a smarter thing to do by legislation.

COL
  • 14th May 2011 01:02pm

It should be mandatery that kids be only be allowed to drive safe older cars till they are 21 at least and only move up if they proove they can handle these cars for there own good.

Isildae
  • 13th May 2011 04:40pm

I don't think it's fair to generalise. Put my 38 year old husband behind the wheel of a powerful car and he drives like an idiot. On the other hand, there are plenty of responsible P platers who do respect the car they are driving and the streets they are driving on. Have to say though, I don't understand why we need high powered fast cars anyway. All cars should be limited to the maximum speed limit.

uruz
  • 12th May 2011 12:36pm

A friend of mine bought his daughter a second hand but good condition solid car. His reason which made a lot of sense to me was that she would invariably have an accident, whether her fault or not and he want her to have a car that would protect her. He was right too as when she did have her accident she was completely unhurt. Oh and it was not her fault either but some revhead.

jedtyne@yahoo.com
  • 4th May 2011 06:46am

Its not about the amount of power the car puts out. Its about education, teaching your kids how to drive. You cant just expect your kids will not go out and be a hoon, just think of what you were like when you got your licence. I only hope my kids do 1/2 as much and I will be happy. Teach them how to handle a car, not just drive it.

Cool
  • 3rd Feb 2011 02:11pm

Personally I think our younger drivers need spaces to learn to drive in and need to be on their own to concentrate... No Music/Radio Distractions and Safe Traffic free spaces like Driving School courses on Private land. If we were really concerned about Road Deaths then Each New Driver (Regardless of Age) should have to pass a Defensive Driving Course as well as prove their abilities on all common Road Surfaces and reasonable conditions. They should only drive cars under a certain HP and Top Speed on the Public roads until they prove they can drive skillfully.

charles
  • 19th Jan 2011 12:00am

I dont think that high powered vehicles are necessary as bad as everyone seems to indicate as the small modern cars are quite capable of reaching 140-150kph,what is needed is a better driving programmes that all new drivers must pass before they are licensed to drive especially late at night.

Fireflyz
  • 17th Nov 2010 07:57am

Something should definitely be done about it. I am sick of young boys doing burn outs at 10 o'clock at night at the end of the street. Now that school holidays are approaching it will get worse and already has as it's happening during the day with cars racing up our street at 1:30 in the afternoon-an hour before I push the pram with my son in it to school. I am not impressed and anything to curb this would be a positive action in my eyes. I was also saddened recently about the school aged boy in the paper that was killed while in a ute doing burnouts with his mates on vacant land.

PukPuk
  • 26th Oct 2010 11:15am

They should be banned from computer games for two years prior to getting out on the road so they get the concept of just hitting the re-set button after a mistake totally removed from their small mind set.

Anonymous
  • 25th Aug 2010 06:55pm

As much as I agree that teens shouldn't have powerful cars, it's not practical. I have lived in a rural area all my life and I need powerful vehicles to get in and out, meaning I HAVE TO drive big four wheel drives.

william
  • 25th Aug 2010 05:22pm

I agree with you now in South Austrlia you can't drive high powered cars until your 18 or 19.

thegriffon
  • 17th Aug 2010 02:37pm

The question of power is somewhat irrelevant anyway. Even the most basic cars are powerful enough to go well over the speed limit. This is not the '50s or '60s when a car capable of 100 or 120 mph was unusual. Even a basic small car such as Fiesta or Barina can easily reach well over 100 mph (160 km/h)—an unsafe speed on many supposedly flat, straight roads in this country. Even a 10 year old Barina with just 66 kw can reach around 180 km/h where possible (although it would require better roads to do so safely).

There are other solutions. In Europe there are special classes of vehicle (voiturettes, quadricycles, or vehicles sans permits) which can be driven without a license or with only a restricted license. They are limited in speed and passengers but unfortunately cost just as much or more to buy as larger cars. Many US states allow similar vehicles (often electric) classed as "neighborhood" vehicles and which are not only limited in speed but which may not be allowed on certain roads (national regulations class them as "off-road" vehicles [i.e. for use in areas such as industrial parks, academic campuses, and private property, but not public roads]). Restricting novice drivers to these vehicles places an undue burden on most families however.

Other solutions look at circumstances of accidents and bad driving, rather than the vehicle. An increasing number of states in the US place restrictions on the number of passengers younger drivers can carry with them in curfew periods (since hooliganism and risky driving is usually a group activity involving showing off to one's mates, usually at night).

3146bj
  • 10th Aug 2010 11:22am

Whenever any discussion re cars and drivers arises, everybody is an expert and has an opinion to overcome the problem based on their own experience. However, nobody, and that includes the police, actually investigates accidents to determine the true cause(s). You cannot solve a problem if you do not know the cause. Too often, a cause is decided upon because it's "obvious". For example, if a car runs off the road in the country and hits a tree, killing the 18 yo driver, it's "excessive speed", but nobody picks up on the dead roo thrown 50m into the bush.

Young drivers have a number of advantages over the oldies - good eyesight, quick reflexes, etc, but lack 2 important things - 30 years experience and fear of consequences.

lpullman
  • 17th Oct 2010 10:55am
Whenever any discussion re cars and drivers arises, everybody is an expert and has an opinion to overcome the problem based on their own experience. However, nobody, and that includes the police,...

I agree about the investigation: here in SA we used to have a very serious accident investigation unit. But budget cuts and their habit of reporting that the cause of accidents wasn't the cause de jour have left them under resourced to do the work. The upshot is that if you have serous collision within half an hour drive of their base it will get thoroughly investigated, but much further and they don't have the time or manpower.

Don't overestimate the advantages of quick reflexes. If you don't know what to do reflexes won't save you. Apparently the two groups with consistently fastest reflexes are pilots and motorcyclists...

techarmy
  • 6th Aug 2010 04:54pm

I have a small wagon. Hyundai Sportswagon. It will do 150kph easily . So it is not always v6or v8 cars that can speed. Any car will get you to a high speed.. One thing i will always remember is when i passed my drivers license , the instructor said to me " you now have a license to kill " .. Never forgot even though it was back in 1970...

Dixi
  • 30th Jul 2010 03:28pm

I know that this is radical and in a way attacks the principle of freedom of expression; in practice would be pretty costly but I reckon any car sold to anyone under age 30 should have a governor fitted. The vehicle would not accelarate quickly nor go over a designated safe speed limit. Having said that I've seen road rage turn some pretty level headed older drivers into lunatics.

Ozboing
  • 3rd Jul 2010 07:39am

Why does every one want australia trying to become a nanny ate?

The solution is not tighter restrictions because people will just rebel against them. How about giving them the proper training to be able to drive safely. Also we should be trying to get them into modern cars with modern safety features.

Remember "Speed doesn't kill, it's the sudden stop."

Teach everyone (not just kids because there are alot of bad drivers out there) to avoid the sudden stop.

lpullman
  • 17th Oct 2010 10:47am
Why does every one want australia trying to become a nanny ate?

The solution is not tighter restrictions because people will just rebel against them. How about giving them the proper...

Everyone doesn't - just the safety industry and those they have managed to terrify into submission. My old man was fond a paratrooper's joke: the fall is fine, it's the landing that kills you.

Agree with you 100% - driver training or no license.

techarmy
  • 23rd Jun 2010 06:07pm

This thing about letting p plate drivers only been able to drive small cars is rubbish. My little Hyundai Sportswagon will do 150kph very easily . So having a small car will not stop them from speeding.
What is needed is advance driving courses been made available at an affordable price for all to do..
And speed cameras do nothing to lower the road toll. They are just revenue raising..

lpullman
  • 17th Oct 2010 10:44am
This thing about letting p plate drivers only been able to drive small cars is rubbish. My little Hyundai Sportswagon will do 150kph very easily . So having a small car will not stop them from...

I see you've spotted the elephant in this room: even the lardiest shopping trolley does n 0-60 in under 20 seconds and will reach the old ton these days.

lucaswestlund
  • 9th Jun 2010 05:25pm

i agree/disagree. some may need it for work etc. however defensive driving courses should be compulsory and hoon laws should be a lot stricter as mentioned already.

donitik
  • 7th Jun 2010 09:18pm

I agree!!! they shuold drive those small cars like daihatsu charade or holden barina...instead of those v6 or v8 cars...why do they need to drive such big cars anyway???

lpullman
  • 17th Oct 2010 10:41am
I agree!!! they shuold drive those small cars like daihatsu charade or holden barina...instead of those v6 or v8 cars...why do they need to drive such big cars anyway???

Have you every driven a 1.4l eurospec Barina? Those things are rocketships. Like the Daihatsus, you have to rev then hard, but they go like buggery. A mate rallied a Daihatsu Charade (possibly the best ever name for a car) in the 90's.

Why do you need multiple question marks

Lani6
  • 10th May 2010 06:19pm

I agree with the point about defensive driving courses, it would be good if they were a part of getting your license.
I'd also like to point out that the hoons are the minority.
Also, many kids learn to drive with their parents, in their parent's car. So it would be a great inconvinience to have to learn completely with an instructor, who charge over $50 an hour. Most kids learn with their instructor, and partly with their parents.

Shirley Fowell
  • 7th May 2010 04:20pm

I agree with you. They do not have the capabilities of controlling a high powered car in all sorts of weather and road conditions. They also drive to fast to control the car properly. Unfortunately they think thay are invincible and that accidents will not happen to them.

david
  • 3rd May 2010 09:05pm

irsa you are right.kids between 17-19 have no real values about life.they think they are invincible.these are the gung-ho.years..something else when national service was about,18-19 year old joined,because they thought they could not die.i know because i was in vietnam with them.they soon realized this was far from the truth.david

LUV-A-TIGER
  • 21st Apr 2010 08:57pm

I agree with u all..
But my thought is to share, is that they should stay a little longer on there learner until they are fully confident, I found that maybe if they are going to have extra passengers it should be countable during there learners no matter what the weather conditions and also if they have music, mobile they should be able to test them on longer with distraction..
This is where you find alot of them in accident cause..

LUV-A-TIGER
  • 21st Apr 2010 08:56pm

I agree with u all..
But my thought is to share, is that they should stay a little longer on there learner until they are fully confident, I found that maybe if they are going to have extra passengers it should be countable during there learners no matter what the weather conditions and also if they have music, mobile they should be able to test them on longer with distraction..
This is where you find alot of them in accident cause..

Dogs
  • 13th Apr 2010 03:43pm

V8, V12, V6, straight 6 etc etc. EVERY car is perfectly safe ..... until it is driven out of the garage. Self explanatory really. There are very, very few 'accidents' -the vast majority of events are when A DRIVER LOSES CONTROL. Work from there....................

Dogs
  • 13th Apr 2010 02:42pm

Any Emergency Services person will tell you ---- it's that little nut behind the steering wheel that you have to be wary of :(

lpullman
  • 30th Mar 2010 03:03pm

This topic is coming up a lot recently around the net.

Anyway, total rubbish. What makes a 21 year old intrinsically a better driver than a 20 year old? The answer: nothing. Age has absolutely nothing to do with it.

Driver skill, ability and attitude are the factors we should be concentrating on. Unfortunately for the road safety industry, those are complex concepts and not easily reduced to simple slogans. What is needed is a driver training scheme rather than our current system. If I had my way you'd have to spend quite a lot of time on a race track, a skid pan and dirt before you were allowed out on the public roads. There are elements in the road safety lobby who oppose driver training because they fear that trained drivers will be more confident, while incompetents will be more cautious. Worked well so far, eh?

To give a real example, I hate getting into a car with a 37 year old friend of mine because he hasn't a clue, but I'll happily drive with another mates 19 year old son who's had years racing carts, bikes and rally cars. I grew up with powerful cars and motorbikes and the only car I've crashed due my own stupidity was a Nissan Navara ute. I've pranged a few bikes while being a tool, but they were all single vehicle accidents, entirely my fault and none due to power.

Yqsymnx
  • 17th Mar 2010 03:37pm

This isn't the issue. There are many people that can handle 'high powered cars'. It's not the car at fault but the person.
A lot more driver education should be mandatory before given the keys.
So perhaps they should have a licensing level akin to trucks and forklifts.
You're allowed to drive a standard scooter or 4 cylinder on a normal license, but need a further license and certain amounts of training for anything of higher power.
And like other people have said, why do we need these 'high powered cars' anyway? It's not like anyone can legally utilise them to their full potential unless they're on a racetrack or private land.

lpullman
  • 30th Mar 2010 11:44pm
Yes but at the same time, this discussion is about young kids and cars.
This is about safety and security, not about fun. As much as they're fun, they're also dangerous. The practicality of a...

Yes exactly - you asked why anyone "needed" a powerful car and you got an answer. Fun is the motivation and the vast majority of owners (under 25 included) do nothing illegal in enjoying their vehicles. You asked the question and now you want to dismiss the answer.

The discussion is not about safety and security, nor is it strictly about kids and cars: it's about whether age should dictate the legal ability to own a particular vehicle. Please don't try to twist this into a motherhood issue, it isn't one.

Did you actually read any of my other posts? I'm the one saying that EVERVYONE should be subject to much more stringent licensing requirements and driver training, not just us petrolheads. The vast majority of accidents happen below the speed limit and involve nothing that anyone would regard as a performance car. Fixating on age will not only not solve fix this issue (if indeed there really is an issue beyond the hysteria of commercial current affairs and a few bandwagon riding politicians), it is counterproductive.

Oh, and thank you for your permission to "have my fun". Nothing like a bit of condescension to boost your arguement :-)

PS Apologies for any spelling mistakes, but it's getting late.

Yqsymnx
  • 30th Mar 2010 03:53pm
Why do we need these "high powered cars"? the reason I've owned every one I have is that it's fun. Performance cars are just so much nicer to driver than your average soggy lard box.

Yes but at the same time, this discussion is about young kids and cars.
This is about safety and security, not about fun. As much as they're fun, they're also dangerous. The practicality of a car is that it gets you from A to B in a manner faster than walking, cycling or other transport.

You're more than welcome to have your fun, but perhaps the point about further licensing could be required so that those that want to own the higher powered cars can do so but only if they qualify the minimum conditions to own such a license.

lpullman
  • 30th Mar 2010 03:23pm
This isn't the issue. There are many people that can handle 'high powered cars'. It's not the car at fault but the person.
A lot more driver education should be mandatory before given the...

Why do we need these "high powered cars"? the reason I've owned every one I have is that it's fun. Performance cars are just so much nicer to driver than your average soggy lard box.

shachah7
  • 15th Mar 2010 01:59pm

Why do they need V6s and 8s. Harsher penalties for young offenders driving these vehicles would be good also.

queenie
  • 4th Mar 2010 04:37pm

i think kids should be twenty one before they get licence so ide never agree to them driving v8s untill their 25 and have done defensive driving courses

lpullman
  • 30th Mar 2010 03:18pm
i think kids should be twenty one before they get licence so ide never agree to them driving v8s untill their 25 and have done defensive driving courses

It's the driving course that's important there not the age. You don't suddenly become a sensible and responsible person the morning after your 25 birthday.

And a defensive driving course is the wrong one, what you actually meant was an advanced driving course.

Cath
  • 27th Feb 2010 01:35pm

the cars are not the problem, its the kids (& others) that drive them. I know plenty of people that can drive powerful cars without being idiots. Maybe manufacturers should put governers in these cars so they cant go over a certain speed. There is no need for cars to be able to do over 120ks on our roads. Maybe they could designate an area for burnouts/drag racing etc that drivers can go to at their own risk and not take out innocent road-users. Banning kids from high powered cars wont stop everyone, if they want to drive them they will find a way.

Anonymous
  • 24th Feb 2010 10:35pm

i agree, to many kids are being killed due to not being able to handle powerful cars at high speeds.
I do think that maybe they should be bringing into our school driving courses.
Thou car sales people dont car what kind of car they sell to the young ones as long as they are going to make a good comission off it.
But in saying all this, somekids will steal or take high powered cars if their not allowed to drive them. Its a catch 22

lpullman
  • 30th Mar 2010 03:15pm
i think kids should be twenty one before they get licence so ide never agree to them driving v8s untill their 25 and have done defensive driving courses

Take a look at the road fatality statistics: the number of "kids" killed on the road hasn't actually changed significantly in 10 years, although it's down along with the general trend in the longer run as a percentage of population.

The high risk group is 16-24 year old males. Always has been, always will be 'cause it's in the genes and not not just to do with driving.

Catch 22 refers to a situation where two choices, neither of which get you what you want. It's from the book of the same name by Joseph Heller and the original went something like this: the main character is trying to get out of flying endless air raids into Europe because it's going to get him killed so he ties to get himself declared insane, but the doc won't section him out because that is an argument that demonstrates his sanity 'cause only a lunatic would keep doing something that will get you killed - but a lunatic wouldn't be trying to get out of it. That's catch 22 and a very good book. But nothing to do with this situation, I'm afraid

rachaelc
  • 5th Feb 2010 04:04pm

Agree - neither turbo petrol engines or powerful V8. Maybe they should be limited the way young motorbike riders are eg they can only drive cars with small engines like a Ford Fiesta or something.
Unfortunately though, the practicalities would make this rule very difficult eg they might not be able to drive mum and dad's car, what if they can't afford to buy their own? Also you can kill yourself and others just as easily in a small car as you can in a more powerful car. Young people will always take risks and will always be invincible. I know because I used to be one, and after my first (thankfully minor) accident that's when I pulled my head in.

Pig
  • 14th Sep 2013 12:04am
Depends on what you mean by too easily obtained. Also I'll hazard a guess and say that you're not a P-plater, therefore the way you got your license was probably a lot easier than it is today. The...

I totally agree with you ben because if you teach someone right from wrong then there is likely hood of their being misfortune, how about the laws get tougher for drink driving.

Anonymous
  • 10th Sep 2013 08:32pm
Agree - neither turbo petrol engines or powerful V8. Maybe they should be limited the way young motorbike riders are eg they can only drive cars with small engines like a Ford Fiesta or...

The trouble with motor vehicles is not how powerful they are, but who they are driven by. A lot of drivers seem to think they can emulate the racing drivers, both track and cross country but seem to forget they are on roads where people drive in the opposite direction just feet away. Advance driving lessons should in my mind be compulsory for all road users particularly those just starting on their driving lifetime. Drug and alcohol offenders should be made to do periods in the emergency departments at hospitals or even the mortuary, to make them realise what trauma they cause when they partake and drive

Ben O'Brien
  • 23rd Jul 2013 12:25am
Why should they be able to drive mum and dads car?If they cant afford to buy their own, then they dont drive a car.
You can kill others just as easily in a small car, but a small car has less...

Depends on what you mean by too easily obtained. Also I'll hazard a guess and say that you're not a P-plater, therefore the way you got your license was probably a lot easier than it is today. The one thing that needs to be considered is the financial cost on mums and dads and families; particularly those that aren't well off. Have you considered the cost of the driving schools? They're around 50 an hour, and we need at least 100 hours of drive time as it is. Have you considered the cost of the petrol for all the extra trips that have to happen to get a young driver up to speed before they can just drive anywhere? You know before they're comfortable and capable to drive with traffic and drive safely? I know that I struggled to afford to get that all done. And then we have to fork out something like $70 for the test and 100 and something to get the license. Then they can turn around and buy a car, and buy insurance etc. And you want to make that harder? My personal approach would be to have mandatory driving courses in defensive driving and courses to increase awareness of reckless driving and to give kids the skills to be able to deal with dangerous situations, so that when they arise (and they will) they're better equip to deal with it. But there needs to be a support network to fund this, because families likely won't be able to afford. And I haven't even touched on the people whose parents who don't drive (and they do exist) and the ones that have lived out of home for a while and don't have access to a fully licensed driver that is willing to help.

Ben O'Brien
  • 22nd Jul 2013 11:49pm
Why should they be able to drive mum and dads car?If they cant afford to buy their own, then they dont drive a car.
You can kill others just as easily in a small car, but a small car has less...

Depends on what you mean by too easily obtained. Also I'll hazard a guess and say that you're not a P-plater, therefore the way you got your license was probably a lot easier than it is today. The one thing that needs to be considered is the financial cost on mums and dads and families; particularly those that aren't well off. Have you considered the cost of the driving schools? They're around 50 an hour, and we need at least 100 hours of drive time as it is. Have you considered the cost of the petrol for all the extra trips that have to happen to get a young driver up to speed before they can just drive anywhere? You know before they're comfortable and capable to drive with traffic and drive safely? I know that I struggled to afford to get that all done. And then we have to fork out something like $70 for the test and 100 and something to get the license. Then they can turn around and buy a car, and buy insurance etc. And you want to make that harder? My personal approach would be to have mandatory driving courses in defensive driving and courses to increase awareness of reckless driving and to give kids the skills to be able to deal with dangerous situations, so that when they arise (and they will) they're better equip to deal with it. But there needs to be a support network to fund this, because families likely won't be able to afford. And I haven't even touched on the people whose parents who don't drive (and they do exist) and the ones that have lived out of home for a while and don't have access to a fully licensed driver that is willing to help.

Anonymous
  • 1st Jun 2013 09:24pm
Agree - neither turbo petrol engines or powerful V8. Maybe they should be limited the way young motorbike riders are eg they can only drive cars with small engines like a Ford Fiesta or...

thats so true

Gerry1945
  • 3rd Nov 2012 10:08am
Hi Rachelc, I believe that the current HOON laws should be modified, that is, 1st strike = Lose the car for 1 month (Not the current 2 days). 2nd strike,take the HOON/S and make them watch their...

Yes I agree, losing your car for 3 days is a waste of space, 99% of hoons know they will not be caught thats why they still hoon daily. should be 1000 dollars and lose licence for 6 months and if found driving unlicenced jailed for 3 months. The laws are far to light on these idiots.

Anonymous
  • 21st Sep 2012 04:35pm
Put heavy penalty/fines on the parents and put the kids into detention.
Also, damages suffered by the victim, to be paid by parents.

but i suppose implying a penalty would not probably solve the problem.
the awareness should be spread instead.

Anonymous
  • 21st Sep 2012 04:34pm
Agree - neither turbo petrol engines or powerful V8. Maybe they should be limited the way young motorbike riders are eg they can only drive cars with small engines like a Ford Fiesta or...

even i had an encounter with this thing. It was ridiculous.

Clint Marchant
  • 5th Aug 2012 09:39pm
Agree - neither turbo petrol engines or powerful V8. Maybe they should be limited the way young motorbike riders are eg they can only drive cars with small engines like a Ford Fiesta or...

Now this is a hard one as say an old Kingswood V8 is slower than most newer four cylinders what it should be on is a horse power rating and if you want to have a car with a higher horse power then you MUST undertake and pass a defensive driving course this will weed out the low performance drivers

jacmouse9
  • 15th Jan 2012 09:02pm
I fully agree with you Rachael, speed does cause accidents and most young people want their first car to be powerful. My son wiped off his first 2 cars and was very lucky not to be killed in one...

I don't think age has much to do with anything, so why do i see parents with their kids in the car speeding past me, more so on the motorways where speed is much higher. 20km more than limit in most cases, and have also noticed more older women speeding too. It should be more like other countries where they must have 40 hours driving school, making them get a parttime job to fund it and taking buses to get there. I would love to see a driving test every 10 years and most of you would hate that but it would weed out those who think they are dam fantastic drivers when they are not. How many people can honestly say they drive the same as if a cop was behind them, not many!! I driver 6 days a week in a large truck and constantly wonder why so many drivers want to take on a truck at the start of a merge, if the trucks in front then you would'nt want to be beside it when lane runs out would you, but theres a lot who put themselves there right in the trucks blind spot. thanks for your coments, great reading

Anonymous
  • 4th Jul 2011 12:15pm
Agree - neither turbo petrol engines or powerful V8. Maybe they should be limited the way young motorbike riders are eg they can only drive cars with small engines like a Ford Fiesta or...

Restricting the power of the car won't matter because they'll either find a way to upgrade or drive the more powerfull cars anyway. Just like people driving around on their learners. They don't really care about the law they just do it anyway. If you bring in a harsher punnishment like crushing the car they will just buy a $500 hack watch that be crushed then go out and buy another one. What needs to be done is educating not only the young drivers but the parents who teach them too.

Niki
  • 16th Jun 2011 07:03am
Hi Rachelc, I believe that the current HOON laws should be modified, that is, 1st strike = Lose the car for 1 month (Not the current 2 days). 2nd strike,take the HOON/S and make them watch their...

Put heavy penalty/fines on the parents and put the kids into detention.
Also, damages suffered by the victim, to be paid by parents.

jenisweet
  • 8th Jun 2011 01:35pm
Agree - neither turbo petrol engines or powerful V8. Maybe they should be limited the way young motorbike riders are eg they can only drive cars with small engines like a Ford Fiesta or...

I fully agree with you Rachael, speed does cause accidents and most young people want their first car to be powerful. My son wiped off his first 2 cars and was very lucky not to be killed in one accident besides having to pay for the damage to his brand new car. He is now a very good driver, but this only came after many years of driving and getting older. I feel that their first car should be one with a smaller engine, although it probably won't stop them speeding unfortunately. Only experience will stop this.

wazza
  • 30th Nov 2010 07:12pm
Agree - neither turbo petrol engines or powerful V8. Maybe they should be limited the way young motorbike riders are eg they can only drive cars with small engines like a Ford Fiesta or...

I dont think that high powered vehicles are necessary as bad as everyone seems to indicate as the small modern cars are quite capable of reaching 140-150kph,what is needed is a better driving programmes that all new drivers must pass before they are licensed to drive especially late at night.

CupCake@91
  • 19th Oct 2010 11:57am
Why should they be able to drive mum and dads car?If they cant afford to buy their own, then they dont drive a car.
You can kill others just as easily in a small car, but a small car has less...

Being a P2 driver at the moment I can see the validation in your comment, but as a rural fire fighter and trainee paramedic, no matter what size vehicle or engine you limit young drivers too, they will always try and mix motor vehicles, high speed and alchol together with deadly consiquences. Also it doesnt matter whether your parents are the richest people in Oz and you are chauffeured every where, and mummy and daddy pay for you attain your 100 or 200 hours required through a professional driver trainer or you come from the poorest of families, once they get their P1's (red P's) they are still going to be like any other young driver and try to push the limits to find their own boundries/limitations and unfortunately more often than not MY generation is finding them withs extremely serious or deadly consiquences.
I feel the only way to make a serious impact into the way young people act in or around motor vehicles is to them watch some real life fotage film by the police and fire brigades of teen driver accidents that way we might be able to scare the message into them

lpullman
  • 17th Oct 2010 10:32am
Agree - neither turbo petrol engines or powerful V8. Maybe they should be limited the way young motorbike riders are eg they can only drive cars with small engines like a Ford Fiesta or...

A couple of points:

It's not "young" motorcyclists, it's P-platers age (as I seem to have to keep saying) has nothing to do with it.

Can't drive the parents rocketship? To bad.

You can kill yourself and others just as easily in a big car as a small (I assume that's what you meant as I've owned a number of small and powerful cares)

thegriffon
  • 17th Aug 2010 02:03pm
Agree - neither turbo petrol engines or powerful V8. Maybe they should be limited the way young motorbike riders are eg they can only drive cars with small engines like a Ford Fiesta or...

The trouble is that a turbo, or V8, is no indication of a vehicle's power or performance. Quite a number of V6 and even 4-cylinder engines produce more power than older V8s, even without turbocharging. Turbocharged engines are increasingly being employed to improve fuel economy rather than power. VW offers many such engines with no more power than a larger 4-cylinder, all Mercedes' 4-cylinder models are turbocharged, Ford will soon offer a turbocharged 4-cylinder Falcon with no more power than the base V6, and Holden is expected to offer a turbocharged Cruze with no more power, but much better fuel economy than the base 4-cylinder. Fiat will soon offer a 1.0 L turbocharged engine in the 500. None of these could be called "performance" cars likely to inspire hooliganism. The importance of such proposals is not they actually have any effect, but rather that the proponents be seen to be doing something.

The trouble is that there is no certified, standard measure for vehicle performance or even power. Rather there are several different standards in use which produce differing results (SAE, ECE, EU, JIS, ISO, etc. even the obsolete DIN). Many manufacturers do not divulge which standard they have used to determine horsepower at all. Quite frankly often the marketing and sales personnel don't actually know (e.g. the JIS is often confused with the SAE, and ECE with EU). In other markets this has caused some minor scandals from time to time. Thus unless regulations require testing to a certain standard before a vehicle is certified for sale (as in the EU), there is no objective way of determining performance. Once the common solution was to calculate a "fiscal" horsepower (purely for tax purposes), based on engine dimensions rather than actual output, but of course that is inadequate if you want to restrict vehicle performance, and too complicated for a licensing system that only records approximate engine size and type, not detailed specifications or certified power.

janie
  • 15th Jul 2010 04:28pm
Agree - neither turbo petrol engines or powerful V8. Maybe they should be limited the way young motorbike riders are eg they can only drive cars with small engines like a Ford Fiesta or...

Laws governing the size CC motorbike you can ride is not dependent on age either. It is dependent on experience. If you get your motorbike license at 50, you will still be only able to ride a 250cc for the first 12 months. AFter that (in WA) you have to sit another test to ride on an open license ie., any CC. There are problems with this as well. I can get my 250cc license today, not ride for 12 months at all, take my open test, and start riding a 1000cc the next day. I think the requirements to pass all vehicle licenses probably need an overhaul.

erogenius
  • 1st May 2010 01:37pm
Agree - neither turbo petrol engines or powerful V8. Maybe they should be limited the way young motorbike riders are eg they can only drive cars with small engines like a Ford Fiesta or...

Why should they be able to drive mum and dads car?If they cant afford to buy their own, then they dont drive a car.
You can kill others just as easily in a small car, but a small car has less capability for speed and other crazy stunts so lessens the risk.
At the end of the day its not about the size of the car, although it would lessen the risk to lower the allowable engine size, but the real problem is the system that allows kids to get into cars in the first place.They are not professionally trained and the license is too easily obtained.Any system that allows mums and dads to teach their kids their own bad habits and doesn't insist on professionally trained instruction is doomed to failure.Unfortunately the failure in this case is teenage death.

Bigfoot
  • 19th Feb 2010 04:15pm
Agree - neither turbo petrol engines or powerful V8. Maybe they should be limited the way young motorbike riders are eg they can only drive cars with small engines like a Ford Fiesta or...

Hi Rachelc, I believe that the current HOON laws should be modified, that is, 1st strike = Lose the car for 1 month (Not the current 2 days). 2nd strike,take the HOON/S and make them watch their car being crushed. This will never stop all the idiots on the road, but I believe this 1 and 2 strike would severely impact on their behaviour

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