There are many legal and non- legal mechanisms, which seek to gain justice for children and young people. The effectiveness of these mechanisms changes with different situations. There have been many law reforms, which have proved to be effective; although there are many areas, which need improvement. An issue that will be further discussed in this essay is young drivers and the law. The legal and non-legal mechanisms that I will discuss throughout this essay are courts, government, and the media and protest groups. These legal and non-legal mechanisms are effective in achieving justice to an extent.
Many young lives, which are …show more content…
aged between 16-24 years, are cut short and families are left devastated, this is where the legal mechanisms need to take action to protect the young drivers and society to drive safely and responsibly.
Deaths are increasing involving p platers. Young drivers are more likely to commit more careless and dangerous driving due to the teenager wanting to experience things they haven’t tried and also peer pressure to speed, will finally cut the lives short of these young people.
Throughout previous years legal and non-legal mechanisms have been taking part in educating young drivers such non-legal mechanisms are the RTA and NRMA, educating in schools. This is a form of the law trying to achieve justice for the young people. Many laws have been introduced recently throughout Australia for young drivers, these laws include:
* A driver knowledge test must be passed. * An eyesight test must be passed.
Learners have restrictions on them such as: * Zero alcohol limits * Maximum speeds * No trailer or caravan towing * Displaying of L-plates * Supervision by a licensed driver * No demerit points permitted. * Logbook must be kept. * Provisional 1 Licence drivers are restricted in activities such as: * Must have a zero blood alcohol concentration. * Maximum driving speeds apply * Driving of high performance cars restricted. * Number of passengers able to be carried * Provisional 2 Licence drivers are restricted in activities such as: * A zero blood alcohol concentration applies * A maximum driving speed of 100kms/hr. * Driving of high performance cars restricted * Drivers must be on this licence for 30 months. * Heavy penalties exist for speeding offences.
The above laws that have just been stated are enforced by the law to decrease the amounts of deaths or serious injuries to young drivers and the law and decrease the risk of members in our society being involved in these crashes.
The Court has also worked to ensure there are less accidents and breaking of the law by young drivers by placing strict penalties to young drivers who break the law.
There are many cases where teenage P-Plater’s have killed passengers the offenders have been taken to court and sentenced to imprisonment, this is evidence of mechanisms serving justice to not only the society but also to the offenders by trying to save their lives.
The media has played a part in achieving justice as it continues to show the effects of the acts played out by young drivers and the law, and tries to show the society the impacts of driving recklessly. In the media young drivers are broadcasted on a regular basis to show the dangers of speeding and warning parents to monitor their children. The media play a part in acieving justice as they bring these issues to the attention of the public, government, courts and young drivers themselves.
Protection of individual right- These laws now protect individual rights as they ensure there are less dangers on the roads with young drivers such as cases which involved deaths in dangerous driving where passengers have died and the defendant has been sentenced with a jail term, now ensures that any reckless acts of driving will have consequences which sends a message to young drivers breaking the
law.
Responsiveness- The government and the courts were able to respond to issues regarding young drivers as they set out laws and rules such as maximum speeds, must have a zero blood alcohol concentration, restricted to driving high performance cars etc.
Enforceability- The courts and the government have enforced laws that must be followed by young drivers to ensure safety on our roads and that there are decreases in accidents, fatality and breaking of laws involving driving. If young drivers fail to oblige by these laws there are heavy consequences involving loss of license, goal and penalties. Effectiveness of the laws has made young drivers more aware of the dangers that they are putting themselves at risk whilst also putting other society members at risk. These legal and non-legal mechanisms have played a role in achieving justice for young drivers and the law, while also serving justice for society.