Curfew rules for P1 P-platers changed but full licence age raised to 20 in South Australia ROAD RULES: Tougher laws now apply to first-year P-platers in South Australia. FIRST-year P-platers going to and from work or any sports, artistic, charitable, religious or scientific commitment will be the only new drivers allowed on the roads between midnight and 5am. New State Government laws, passed in Parliament on Thursday, will prohibit first-year P-plate drivers from carrying more than one passenger aged 16-20 and will increase minimum full-licence age from 19 to 20. Family First MLC Robert Brokenshire successfully altered the Government's tough policy to expand the sporting exemption to also include artistic, charitable, religious or scientific activity. CONCESSIONS: Family First MLC Robert Brokenshire has successfully altered the Government's tough policy. TELL US: Do you support these new rules? He said that while it was important to prevent death and injury among the young, those living in country isolation were particularly disadvantaged by the curfews. We had to increase the categories for legitimate non-sporting recreational pursuits. For example, if you are in a church youth group, that is just as legitimate a reason to be out late as participating in sport," Mr Brokenshire said. Road Safety Minister Michael O'Brien said work could now begin on implementing the laws. "We now have one of the best graduated licensing systems in the country," he said. If these changes had been in place over the past five years, they had the potential to prevent 22 deaths, 240 serious injuries and 1397 minor injuries. Key changes to be implemented next year include: ALLOWING no more than one passenger aged 16-20 for the duration of their P1 licence for drivers under 25, excluding immediate family members. PROHIBITING P1 drivers under 25 driving between midnight and 5am unless exempted. EXTENDING the total minimum provisional licence period from two to three years - one year on a P1 licence and two years on a P2. PASSING the hazard perception test to move from a learner's permit to P1, rather than P1 to P2 as is now the case. Opposition transport spokeswoman Vickie Chapman said the requirement to carry a note if driving after curfew was an unfair burden on both the young drivers and those asked to provide them. "The absurd thing is the first thing young people will do if they want to drive at 3am is not display their P-plates," she said. Ms Chapman said curfews should only be imposed on young drivers who had previously committed driving offences. Youth Affairs Council of SA executive director Anne Bainbridge opposed the new laws and said the vast majority of young people progress from their learner's permit through to their full licence without incident. The council advocates more training for young drivers "instead of a complex and punitive system that will impact on young people's access to employment, education, health, socialising and support services and recreation."