Story by Samantha Turnbull, ABC News.
Read Samantha’s full story here
FIGURES SHOW the annual road toll for young drivers is steadily declining as the families of four boys killed in a car crash near Byron Bay mark 10 years since the boys’ deaths.
Saturday 22nd October, 2016 marks a decade since a single-vehicle accident near Byron Bay killed 17-year-olds Bryce Wells and Mitchell Eveleigh, and 16-year-olds Corey New and Paul Morris.
The 17-year-old driver escaped with minor injuries and was later sentenced to four years jail with a non-parole period of two years.
Figures from the Centre for Road Safety NSW show a steady reduction in road deaths of people aged 17-25 over the past 15 years, but particularly since P-plate legislation changes in 2007.
The Centre’s executive director Bernard Carlon said the 2006 accident had been the impetus for the changes.
They included that drivers under 25 were no longer allowed more than one passenger between 11pm and 5am, a zero tolerance of speeding, and the introduction of 120 hours of supervised driving for learners.