ollowing strong community feedback, the Cook Labor Government is delivering reforms to strengthen Western Australia’s Graduated Licensing System (GLS) and help develop safer, more capable drivers.

More than 7,700 Western Australians had their say during last year’s consultation period, helping shape practical changes to better support young drivers as they learn and gain experience on the State’s roads.

The reforms include:

• increasing the minimum learner period from six months to 12 months;
• increasing the minimum provisional period from two years to three years (one-year P1, two years P2);
• increasing the minimum supervised driving hours from 50 hours (including five hours nighttime) to 80 hours (including 10 hours night-time);
• developing an online theory and hazard perception test in addition to the in-centre test;
• banning mobile phone use for learner and provisional drivers, except for hands-free use through in-built navigation systems and playing audio, if set up prior to commencing the journey; and
• introducing a zero-blood alcohol concentration limit for all supervisor drivers while supervising a learner driver.

The community consultation was backed by the ‘Tom’s Story’ campaign, based on the story of Tom Saffioti who was killed in a road crash as a backseat passenger in 2021.

An extension of the award-winning ‘Red plate. One mate’ campaign, Tom’s mum Samantha and his best friend Ben share their memories of Tom, asking young drivers to ‘Drive like your mate’s life depends on it. Because it does.’

Western Australia will also align with the rest of the nation by separating the car and motorcycle Graduated Licensing Systems.

Public consultation on proposed motorcycle GLS reforms will open on My Say Transport from Sunday, 3 May until Sunday, 24 May 2026. Proposed changes include:

• raising the minimum age to obtain a learner motorcycle licence from 16 to 18 years;
• increasing the provisional period, from two years to three years (one year on red P-plates and two years on green P-plates);
• introducing mandatory pre-learner and pre-provisional training and assessment during the learner rider phase and prior to granting a motorcycle rider’s licence;
• introducing late night riding restrictions during the learner phase;
• introducing pillion passenger restrictions for learner, P1, and P2 riders;
• introducing automatic progression from a restricted to an unrestricted motorcycle licence, noting new training requirements to better equip riders; and
• banning mobile phone use for learner and provisional riders, except for hands-free use through in-built navigation systems and playing audio, if set up prior to commencing the journey.

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1.2 Speed
Speeding increases the risk of being involved in a crash and of being seriously injured
or killed. Speeding is not just driving faster than the speed limit, it is also driving too
fast to suit the road, traffic, visibility or the weather conditions.
It is against the law to drive above the posted speed limit. If you are caught speeding
you will be fined and you may accumulate demerit points.
If you have a provisional licence, you could have your licence cancelled.
Under the ‘Anti-Hoon’ legislation people caught travelling at 45km/h or more above
the posted speed limit can be charged with reckless driving, resulting in licence
suspension or even cancellation. They can also have their vehicles impounded or
confiscated if they are racing or doing ‘burnouts’.

Why is it more dangerous to drive fast? It is more dangerous to drive fast because: injuries are more severe at high speed; you are more likely to be killed or kill someone else; it is harder to control a vehicle that is travelling at high speed; you have less time to react to hazards; and other drivers have less time to avoid a collision with you. Always travel at a speed that allows you to anticipate and react safely to sudden dangerous situations that can occur on the road. 1.2.2 Choosing what speed to travel A speed limit is the maximum legal speed at which you can travel on a road under ideal conditions. You must adjust your speed to suit the conditions and remember never drive faster than the speed limit. The speed limit can be shown on signs or be the limit that applies to ‘built-up’ areas or the State’s maximum speed limit depending on where you are driving.

Western Australia has a graduated licensing system for new drivers. This means that novice drivers must complete a number of assessments and gain experience in different driving conditions before being granted a provisional driver’s licence. A graduated system also applies to drivers obtaining motorcycle or heavy vehicle licences. Full details of experience requirements for motorcycle or heavy vehicle licences are at Appendix 1. 2.1 Getting Your Car (C class) Licence Before you can learn to drive any motor vehicle on the road, you must have a valid learner’s permit. A learner’s permit allows you to drive a vehicle of the specified class. The minimum age at which a person can obtain a learner’s permit to drive ‘C’ class vehicles is 16 years of age. Learner’s permits are valid for a period of 3 years, you may apply for a learner’s permit at any Driver and Vehicle Services (DVS) centre or regional DVS agent. When applying for a learner’s permit for the first time you must provide evidence of your age, identity and where you live. The forms of identification you will need to take with you when applying for your learner’s permit can be found at Appendix 3. When you apply for a learner’s permit, you will be charged a fee to undertake a theory test on the road rules, you will also be charged an application fee that entitles you to undertake one practical on-road driving assessment. To start recording your supervised driving hours you will need to pay for and be issued a Learner Log Book or to obtain a digital version of a learner log book for use with your smartphone, visit www.transport.wa.gov.au for more information. 2.1.1 The Graduated Driver Training and Licensing System The Graduated Driver Training and Licensing system is designed to make sure learner drivers get a wider range of supervised driving experience under different road and traffic conditions over a longer period before driving solo. The system is designed to help you acquire the practical driving skills, good driving habits and the responsible and courteous attitudes that are essential to safety on our roads. Learner drivers aged 25 and above, who are applying for a car (C class) licence, are exempt from the requirement to complete a Log Book.

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