The Liberal Government is committed to improving road safety for all road users to help save lives and reduce serious injuries.
We want novice drivers to be as prepared as they can be to drive solo on our roads, and that includes gaining experience at highway speeds.
That's why we are delivering our election commitment to increase speed limits for novice drivers to end the anomaly that sees a newly graduated P2 driver able to drive up to 110km/h without any prior legal experience of driving at speeds over 80km/h.
The Government is now writing to all novice drivers and other stakeholders to let them know that from March 2nd this year, the new maximum speed limits for L2 and P1 drivers will increase from 80km/h in higher speed zones to:
Importantly, these changes will help to improve traffic flow on our roads, particularly on our major highways where a 30km/h speed difference in traffic can be unsafe.
The new speed limits will not apply to L1 car drivers and L and P1 motorcycle riders, for whom the maximum speed limit will remain at 80km/h, but they will apply to those learning to drive a heavy vehicle.
I will ask the Police Commissioner to ensure that novice drivers are closely monitored in their compliance with the speed limits applicable to their new licence conditions.
All motorists are reminded that the speed limit is not a target, and that it is critical to maintain a safe speed and always drive to the conditions.