The first change is for Provisional 2 (P2) licence holders, who will no longer be able to use any function of their mobile phones from December this year.

This includes when they are driving or riding and when they are stationary, but not parked. 

Current rules allow P2 drivers to use mobile phones for calls and audio only, but the phone must be securely mounted or an automated audio device used.

The changes for P2 licence holders are the same restrictions placed on Learner and Provisional 1 (P1) drivers.

Panorama Road Safety’s Matthew Irvine said he is happy to see more restrictions on phone use.

“In reality, in a perfect world, we’d ban phone use for everybody,” he said.

“Whilst more experienced drivers can multitask better, we are all impaired when using a phone.”

Changes to the Graduated Licensing Scheme will come into effect from November, 2017 and mainly revolve around the use of the Hazard Perception Test (HPT)..

The HPT is currently used for P1 licence holders that want to progress to a P2 licence.

Under the changes, the test will be removed for P1 licence holders and required for learners to progress to unsupervised driving. 

“Hazard perception as a concept has been around for the past 10 years and we are teaching that quite extensively at the learner level,” Mr Irvine said.

The Driver Qualification Test (DQT) will also be removed for P2 licence holders before progressing to an unrestricted licence.

The Roads and Maritime Services (RMS) website provides practice tests and modules for the HPT and DQT to prepare drivers.

The final change, which comes into effect in November 2017, will be to extend the time a driver must stay on their P2 licence by 6 months each time they receive a suspension for unsafe driving behaviour.

“It doesn't affect the vast majority of P-platers who do the right thing,” Mr Irvine said.

“P-platers who do the right thing can go straight through, but if you choose to engage in risk behaviour you will be on your p-plates for a very long time.”