Derek Neary
Northern News Services

NNSL (May 13/98) - Fifteen-year-olds are eligible to obtain learner's permits but next year they may be receiving probationary licences.

One of the measures the Department of Transportation has proposed to reduce drinking and driving is a graduated licensing system. Under the system, new drivers wouldn't be permitted to have any alcohol in their bloodstream before getting behind the wheel.

New drivers would also require an experienced driver to accompany them while driving, be confined to driving only certain hours of the day, have a limited number of passengers in the vehicle and be subject to a limited demerit point level -- a fixed number of driving convictions would prevent a new driver from obtaining a full licence.

The only restriction with a learner's permit is that a driver with at least two years experience must also be in the vehicle.

The probationary period could last for a period of one or two years, according to Richard MacDonald, director of motor vehicles.

"The basic idea is just to give new drivers the time to learn and become experienced before they go on to the next level," MacDonald said.

"It's something we're looking at. We're one of the last provinces who haven't implemented the graduated licensing system."

However, the system isn't likely to be introduced until the public has decided on the entire package of measures to curtail drinking and driving, according to MacDonald. That process is expected to take at least until fall, Transport Minister Jim Antoine said last Friday.

The idea of a graduated licensing system was praised and panned by local teens.

Ashley Brebner, 15, said she's not old enough to drink and her parents won't let her drive after midnight anyway so those restrictions are fine with her. However, she and Sam Creed, 16, (neither of whom have their licence yet) take umbrage with the idea of having a limited number of passengers in the car.

"If you want to drive a fiend home, I think you should be able to do that," Creed said.

Karen Chocolate, 17, also without her licence, said she has no objection with any of the provisions.

"The other people may distract you," she said of being permitted to chauffeur only one other person.