Abstract
In New South Wales, drivers in their first year of licensed experience may have their licenses cancelled forthwith (usually for three months) for any one of a wide variety of moving traffic offences. They are subject to a 40 m.p.h. speed limit, and must carry an identifying "P" plate. These measures were brought into effect of January 1966, and are jointly known as the "provisional licence scheme". An analysis of the effectiveness of the scheme has been attempted in terms of a hoped-for reduction in the accident rate of first-year drivers. A small but statistically significant reduction was found, however, there is reason to doubt the validity of the data.