The WA Government has welcomed what it says has been an overwhelmingly positive response to a six-week online community consultation on WA’s Graduated Licensing System (GLS).
Between 28 September and 9 November last year, 7,701 people provided feedback on proposed changes to improve WA’s GLS that guides how Western Australians learn to drive a car and obtain their licence, to develop safer drivers on the state’s roads.
Significantly, 67% of all responses were by people aged between 16 and 24 years, which is a key GLS audience. Additionally, 25% of responses came from parents, the Government said in a statement.
Respondents were asked to provide feedback on the following:
- increasing the minimum learner driver period from six months to 12 months;
- extending the provisional driver period from two years to three years, broken down into one year on red P-plates and two years on green P-plates;
- increasing the minimum number of supervised driving hours or logbook hours from 50 hours to 75 hours;
- the requirement for supervising drivers to have zero Blood Alcohol Concentration (BAC) while supervising a learner driver;
- the introduction of an online option for both the theory and hazard perception tests in addition to the option of in-centre testing; and
- limiting phone use for all learner and provisional drivers to in-car systems, allowing for the use of GPS and/or playing audio.
The Department of Transport and Major Infrastructure (DTMI) launched the ‘Tom’s Story’ campaign (image from the campaign pictured) to run concurrently with the consultation period, encouraging people to participate in the online survey.
Tom’s Story was a multi-channel social media and radio campaign that featured Samantha Saffioti, whose son Tom died as a passenger in car crash when he was 15, and Tom’s best mate, Ben, who spoke candidly about their loss and encouraged new drivers to “Drive like their mate’s life depends on it. Because it does.”
“Western Australians had their say on what a safer Graduated Licensing System should look like, with young drivers and parents, those most affected, strongly represented,” said Road Safety Minister, Reece Whitby.
“Tom’s Story sends a powerful message to young drivers: Drive like your mate’s life depends on it. Because it does.
“I commend Samantha Saffioti for her leadership on the Tom’s Story campaign and this work, which reinforces the Cook Government’s strong commitment to improving road safety and saving lives.”
During the campaign, which ran from 28 September – 30 November 2025, around 40,000 people visited the Tom’s Story campaign page on the Transport WA website, which provided safe driving tips and the campaign’s videos.
Nearly every visitor to the Tom’s Law page (99.27%) engaged with the content or clicked a link.
“I welcome the strong response to the consultation to review and improve Western Australia’s Graduated Licensing System,” said Minister Assisting the Minister for Transport, Jessica Stojkovski.
“This feedback will directly inform reforms that better prepare young drivers, reduce risk in the early years and help save lives on our roads.
“The review reflects the Cook Government’s commitment to building safe and inclusive communities, ensuring our licensing settings align with contemporary evidence, community expectations and best-practice road safety.”
The Department of Transport and Major Infrastructure is analysing the feedback from the consultation to develop recommendations to government for proposed changes to the WA GLS.
It’s anticipated the Motorcycle Graduated Licensing System will be reviewed next through a separate, focused process.
