IBC praises P.E.I.’s proposed plan for graduated licensing

The Insurance Bureau of Canada (IBC) has praised P.E.I.’s proposal for implementing graduated licensing for new drivers, according to the CBC.
“I think the government is to be commended for taking this step,” Bill Adams, the manager of government relations for the Atlantic Canada division of the IBC, told the CBC. “There’s a lot of other jurisdictions in the country who can and should be improving their graduated driver licensing program, but there hasn’t really been the political will to do so.”
The IBC is hoping the proposed modifications will rank P.E.I.’s new-driver licensing program among the top third licensing programs in Canada, the CBC reported.
The proposed changes call for:
banning the use of any mobile phones or portable computers or mp3 players.
banning driving on the roads between 1 a.m. and 5 a.m.
implementing a probationary zero alcohol tolerance, and
lengthening the probationary period to one year from six months.
Also, young drivers would have to wait until their 16th birthday to apply for their permit. The current rules say they can apply six months before their 16th birthday.