Tom was a 15-year-old backseat passenger killed in a car crash in 2021. The driver was a red P-plater and the car was overloaded with young people.
Introduced in December 2024, Tom's Law aims to reduce death and serious injury on WA roads by limiting red P-plate drivers to one passenger.
To improve driver and road safety outcomes, we are reviewing WA’s Graduated Licensing System that prepares and assesses learner drivers in WA.
We want to hear from you about proposed changes to this system to better prepare learner drivers for solo driving.
How you can stay safe on the road
Getting your licence brings a newfound sense of freedom and opportunity. It also signals the riskiest time in your driving career: driving solo for the first time or with passengers who aren’t your supervisor or instructor.
These tips will help keep you and others safe.
Buckle up
Wearing a seatbelt is one of easiest ways to protect yourself. As the driver you’re responsible for ensuring all passengers wear a seatbelt or child restraint and you can only carry as many passengers as available seatbelts.
You’re 10 times more likely to be killed in a crash if you’re not wearing a seatbelt.
Limit distractions
Being distracted behind the wheel – particularly by using or looking at a mobile phone, by your passengers or by eating – is dangerous.
Two seconds of distraction at 60 km/h equates to 33 metres driving blind.
Speed matters
Your driving speed affects both the risk of being involved in a crash and the likelihood of death or serious injury if you crash. Follow the speed limits and drive to the conditions.
Every 5km/h above the speed limit in a 60km/h zone doubles your risk of being injured in a crash.
Not all roads are equal
Regional roads differ from city and local roads that you’re used to. Broaden your driving experience when learning with your supervisor, especially with different road surfaces, traffic and weather conditions.
In WA, a disproportionate number of road fatalities and serious injuries happen on regional roads.
Don’t drive tired
Driving tired can slow your reactions. If you start yawning, blinking more than usual, drift from your lane or zone out, you need to pull over. A tired driver can drift in and out of sleep, called a micro-sleep, without realising.
A micro-sleep of five seconds at 110km/h is like travelling the length of an Aussie rules football field with your eyes closed.
Hear from Tom's best mate
Ben and Tom were best mates. They grew up together. Ben was also 15 years old when he learned that his best mate had been killed in a car crash. Ben’s message to new drivers is simple:
“Drive like your mate’s life depends on it. Because it does.”
Hear from Tom's mum
No parent should need to bury their child. It started like any other day on the day when Samantha’s son, Tom, was killed as a passenger in a car crash. Samantha urges young drivers to drive like their mates’ lives are in their hands.
Graduated Licensing System (GLS) review
The introduction of Tom’s Law paved the way for a comprehensive review and overhaul of WA’s Graduated Licensing System (GLS).
Public consultation on the GLS for cars and motorcyles were amongst a host of key road safety initiatives flowing from the Premier’s Road Safety Roundtable in October 2024, held to address the increasing road trauma and the rate of young people being killed and injured on WA roads.
The Department of Transport and Major Infrastructure (DTMI) led the development of the GLS review process, with guidance from a dedicated stakeholder reference group representing education, research, road safety, local government, police and motoring organisations across the state.
To support public consultation, DTMI also worked closely with Samantha Saffioti to develop the Tom’s Story campaign.
Following six weeks of public consultation, DTMI received more than 7,700 responses on options to improve the car GLS and submitted its recommendations to Government. Cabinet approved the final recommendations in May 2026.
Reforms for the car GLS to better support young drivers as they learn and gain experience, 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 on red P plates and two years on green P plates);
- 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 GLS reforms will see the introduction of a standalone motorcycle-specific licensing journey following similar public consultation, which received more than 3,000 responses.
Motorcycle riders remain disproportionately represented in serious injury and fatal crashes in WA and a standalone motorcycle GLS acknowledges the distinct skills, risks and training requirements associated with motorcycle riding.
A standalone motorcycle GLS is proposed to include:
- increasing the minimum age to obtain the motorcycle learners permit from 16 to 18 years.
- reducing the learners permit validity period from 3 years to 1 year.
- increasing the provisional rider period from 2 years to 3 years: one year on red P-plate and two years on green P-plate.
- removing supervised riding hours requirement.
- introducing nighttime riding restrictions during learner phase (work-related exemptions will apply).
- introducing restrictions for learner and provisional riders carrying pillion passengers before the learner and provisional phases, respectively.
- restricting mobile phone use among learner and provisional riders during learner and provisional GLS phases but allowing GPS and audio functions, if set up prior to commencing the journey.
- introducing mandatory pre-learner and pre-provisional training and assessment during the learner rider phase.
- introducing automatic progression from a restricted motorcycle licence to an unrestricted motorcycle licence following a minimum 2-year period on the restricted licence.
Safe Driver Reward Scheme enhancements
DTMI also enhanced to the Safe Driver Reward Scheme, providing eligible provisional and new drivers with a financial incentive for maintaining a clean driving record during their probationary period or first year on an unrestricted licence.
P‑plate drivers who do not commit any traffic offences while on their provisional licence, are rewarded with a free licence renewal for one year. Under an enhanced scheme, eligible drivers who maintain a clean record for an additional year are entitled to either a free one-year licence or a $100 discount on a five-year renewal.
The scheme encourages sustained safe driving behaviours and deters risky driving as novice drivers transition out of their probationary period.
The implementation of these initiatives by DTMI during this period reflects the State Government’s ongoing commitment to promoting responsible driving and reducing road trauma in our community.
Helpful links
Find out more about Tom's Law and driving on your P Plates.
Road trauma counselling and support services
If you’ve been affected by road trauma, you’re not alone. The below services can assist you.
Road Trauma Support WA
Road Trauma Support WA is a not-for-profit agency, delivered by the ICCWA and funded by the Road Trauma Trust Account with contract management through the Road Safety Commission WA.
Beyond Blue
For more than 20 years, people in Australia have placed their trust in Beyond Blue as a reliable source of mental health information, support, and hope.
Lifeline WA
Lifeline WA provides all Western Australians experiencing a personal crisis or thinking about suicide with access to 24 hour crisis support and suicide prevention services.