This response comes after the family of Tom Saffioti have been fearlessly campaigning for tougher P-plate driving laws. Clearly their organized, collaborative approach was sparked by the young man’s tragic and untimely death. Tom was just 15 years old when he sadly died in a road traffic accident in 2021. The crash killed 17-year-old Mark Bogoni. The accident has deeply affected Tom’s mother, Samantha Saffioti. Very much resolved to make positive change, following this experience she now vigorously advises the State Government on amendments that will create safer roads for these young, naïve drivers.
Samantha Saffioti hopes that her campaign will not only prevent further tragedies but remind people of the fragility of life. “By sharing his story, Samantha hopes to protect other young people and spare their families the heartache of losing someone they love,” stated Angie Perkins, a friend of the Saffioti family. The campaign is really picking up steam! The state government is rolling out a public awareness campaign to drive home the message that responsible driving can save lives.
Proposed Changes to Driving Laws
Included in this campaign are a number of important amendments to P-plate driving laws being proposed. The minimum number of supervised driving or logbook hours for learner drivers would raise supervision from 50 to 75 hours. Drivers under supervision may not have a Blood Alcohol Concentration (BAC) of greater than 0.00. This rule goes as long as they’re riding alongside students out on the road. Jessica Stojkovski emphasized the reasoning behind these proposed changes, stating, “There’s an urgency about this because we do want to see changes come into effect that will make our young drivers safer.”
Beyond accessibility, the implementation of smart cameras to the city has been a key point of this campaign. Expected to begin giving photo tickets starting October 8, these automated cameras are expected to help cities crack down on dangerous driving violations. More than 300,000 drivers were recorded violating this road law in the eight-month grace period. This jaw-dropping figure only reinforces the necessity for heightened enforcement actions.
Government Response and Public Concerns
Inid MP Minister Reece Whitby said there were concerns with the enforceability of fines. He stressed that this should improve driving safety, not penalize households with lower socio-economic status. “All of these fines are voluntary. They’re all voluntary. If you don’t want to pay a speeding fine or an offence, a fine for using your phone, don’t do it,” he explained. Whitby further advocated for the new technology, stating, “This is new technology, which is designed to keep people safer, to save lives.”
The campaign focuses on empowering young drivers to understand the importance of safe driving. “We’re pleading that you drive like your mate’s life depends on it because it does,” Whitby added. This communicated message truly resonates with the masses. As a DOT volunteer ambassador, Samantha Saffioti doesn’t just want to remember her son—she wants to save lives across her state.
Community Impact and Ongoing Efforts
While the immediate impact of Tom Saffioti’s story will be felt most by his family, the cause has united the community against the toxic tale. The campaign shows Tom’s mother, Val, with Tom’s image on her football premiership cup. It does a commendable and powerful job of reminding us about the dangers posed by young drivers. The family wanted their story to help save adolescent lives by raising awareness around responsible driving.
Samantha Saffioti and the advocates who rallied around her continue to fight for the safety of young drivers. Like them, we want to see real change that prevents crashes and saves lives. Their campaign is about much more than the policy change they hope to see. It seeks to promote a culture of safe and responsible driving behavior across our roadways.
