❓ Question regarding learner driver training standards and road safety in WA. The government is reviewing the graduated licensing system and considering reforms to improve driver safety outcomes, including stricter rules and new initiatives.
AnsweredQoN 609Legislative Council
Asked
16 September 2025
Member
Portfolio
Minister Assisting the Minister for Transport
QuestionView source ↗
I refer to concerns about the standard of driver training for learner drivers and the impact this has on road safety, and I ask: (a) for the following years, how many times have police in Western Australia stopped vehicles being driven by learner drivers to check the learner driver’s credentials and the credentials of the person providing instruction: (i) 2022-23; (ii) 2023-24; and (iii) 2024-25; (b) what measures are in place to ensure that individuals presenting themselves as qualified driving instructors are properly accredited and not operating without the necessary qualifications; (c) has the Government considered strengthening requirements for the training and supervision of learner drivers to improve driver safety outcomes; and (d) if yes to (c), what reforms are under consideration?
AnswerView source ↗
Answered
16 October 2025
Responded by
Minister representing the Minister Assisting the Minister for Transport
Response time
5 days
(a)
(i - iii) WA Police advises that it is unable to provide this information due to the unreasonable diversion of resources which would be required to source relevant data.
(b) In terms of the Motor Vehicle Drivers Instructors Act 1963 a driving instructor must produce, on demand, their DTMI instructor’s licence to any person seeking driving instruction, as well as other specified persons for the purposes of identification of their qualified status or enforcement activities. DTMI also validates driving instructors’ details via their instructor number when they assess a learner driver.
(c) Yes. The State Government is currently undertaking a comprehensive review of the learner and provisional driver graduated licensing system (GLS). A six-week public consultation period commenced on 28 September 2025, to provide stakeholders and public the opportunity to provide feedback on a range of options designed to improve the GLS for cars.
Additionally, the Government will review WA's outdated Motor Vehicle Drivers Instructors legislation.
(d) Following WA’s Road Safety Roundtable in September 2024, the State Government has introduced several road safety initiatives targeting young people. ‘Tom’s Law’ introduced in December 2024, limits red P plate drivers to always carrying one passenger.
A new Safer Driver Course for up to 750 people under 25 years of age is being delivered as a pilot in selected regions identified through ongoing consultation with Driving Access and Equity Program grant funded organisations and participants across WA.
The GLS consultation paper covers a range of reforms, including the length of learner and provisional driver periods, minimum supervised driving hours, online options for the theory and hazard perception tests, stricter mobile phone use restrictions, a zero alcohol requirement for supervising drivers, and other measures designed to reduce road deaths and trauma among learner and provisional drivers.
After the submissions close on 9 November, DTMI will consider feedback ahead of the State Government implementing further reforms to protect novice drivers.
(i - iii) WA Police advises that it is unable to provide this information due to the unreasonable diversion of resources which would be required to source relevant data.
(b) In terms of the Motor Vehicle Drivers Instructors Act 1963 a driving instructor must produce, on demand, their DTMI instructor’s licence to any person seeking driving instruction, as well as other specified persons for the purposes of identification of their qualified status or enforcement activities. DTMI also validates driving instructors’ details via their instructor number when they assess a learner driver.
(c) Yes. The State Government is currently undertaking a comprehensive review of the learner and provisional driver graduated licensing system (GLS). A six-week public consultation period commenced on 28 September 2025, to provide stakeholders and public the opportunity to provide feedback on a range of options designed to improve the GLS for cars.
Additionally, the Government will review WA's outdated Motor Vehicle Drivers Instructors legislation.
(d) Following WA’s Road Safety Roundtable in September 2024, the State Government has introduced several road safety initiatives targeting young people. ‘Tom’s Law’ introduced in December 2024, limits red P plate drivers to always carrying one passenger.
A new Safer Driver Course for up to 750 people under 25 years of age is being delivered as a pilot in selected regions identified through ongoing consultation with Driving Access and Equity Program grant funded organisations and participants across WA.
The GLS consultation paper covers a range of reforms, including the length of learner and provisional driver periods, minimum supervised driving hours, online options for the theory and hazard perception tests, stricter mobile phone use restrictions, a zero alcohol requirement for supervising drivers, and other measures designed to reduce road deaths and trauma among learner and provisional drivers.
After the submissions close on 9 November, DTMI will consider feedback ahead of the State Government implementing further reforms to protect novice drivers.
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