Nova Scotia pushes ahead with graduated licencing -The Globe and Mail
Plan would restrict new drivers' privileges for two years

BY KEVIN COX
Atlantic Bureau

HALIFAX--In a bid to reduce the carnage on the highways caused by inexperienced drivers, the Nova Scotia government is vowing it will be the first province in Canada to introduce tough restrictions on the privileges of newly licenced drivers.
Under a system know a graduated licencing, for two years after passing a road test all new drivers, regardless of age, would be prohibit from driving between midnight and 6 a.m. unless accompanied by an experienced driver, and would have to have a blood-alcohol level of zero.
They would also have to complete a six-hour defensive driving course before they could graduate to a full licence.
The proposed system will be the subject of public hearings starting next week, and could become law as early as the spring.
Transportation Minister George Archibald said the program, long sought by groups such as the Insurance Bureau of Canada and the Traffic Injuries Research Foundation, is aimed at reducing the number of motor-vehicle accidents- the leading cause of death for young people in Canada.
In the past decade, more than 10,000 people in that age group were killed in car crashes across Canada, he said.

"Motor-Vehicle accidents are the leading cause of death among young people. That's not right, and we can no longer afford to ignore it"
The new system will enable beginning drivers to gain experience and develop skills and judgment., Mr. Archibald said.
"Why wait? Last year we had 101 people between 15 and 19 die on our roadways, and 118 between the age of 20 and 24. I hope we can change that."
Ontario has studied the graduated licencing system, but has made no move to implement it. In New Zealand, where such a system was adopted in 1987,