WA’s P-plate drivers will be banned from carrying more than one passenger in their first six months behind the wheel, under changes announced by the state government.

The new road rules will be known as “Tom’s Law,” in honor of Tom Saffioti, 15, who was killed along with his friend Mark Bogoni, 17, when the car they were in hit a tree in Seville Grove in September 2021.

They were among five passengers in a car driven by an 18-year-old P-plater.

Tom’s mother Samantha lobbied the government to introduce passenger restrictions for P-plate drivers, believing it would help save lives.

The passenger restrictions will come into effect on December 1.

WA’s road toll has reached 151 deaths so far this year, the highest figure since 2016.

The state government has been under pressure to introduce the changes after a spate of recent deaths involving young passengers, including 18-year-old Nick Campo in July.

In WA, drivers have their red P plates for six months and their green P plates for 18 months.

Under Tom’s Law, drivers with a red P plate will be limited to just one passenger at any time, unless the additional passenger(s) are experienced drivers who have been licensed for at least four years , are immediate family members or the conduct is work-related. .

If the conduct is work-related, the P-plater must carry a letter from his or her employer and present it upon request.

The penalty for violating the passenger restrictions is a $200 fine and two demerit points, which is the same as driving during the existing P-Plate red curfew.

The current red P plate curfew for driving between midnight and 5am will continue to apply.

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