Canberra driving instructors have called proposed changes to the ACT's P-plate laws unnecessary, saying young drivers will be adversely affected.
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Under a proposal by ACT Road Safety Minister Shane Rattenbury earlier this week, Canberra P-platers would be banned from driving between midnight and 5am.
Learner drivers would also be required to log at least 100 hours of supervised driving before earning a provisional licence while P-platers would be restricted to one peer-aged passenger at all times.
Ron Hayes, a driving instructor for Pinnacle Driving School with 20 years' experience, said he doesn't agree with the approach.
"You can't gain your licence by being restricted in certain situations," he said.
"Whether you're driving between midnight and 5am or 5pm to 12pm, the best thing you can do is to drive in a range of conditions."
While the driving instructor said the total ban on P-plate drivers was extreme, he wasn't entirely against the proposed 100-hour logbook new drivers would have to complete.
"Depending on how these 100 hours are catalogued, the logbook would be the easiest thing in the world to fudge," he said.
"I wouldn't be totally opposed to 100 hours, as long as it's enforced."
The ACT has one of the most relaxed laws for P-plate drivers, with no speed or passenger restrictions similar to those enforced by other states.
There is no minimum number of hours needed for L-platers to undergo supervised driving before an attempted driving test, although 50 hours is recommended.
Fellow driving instructor Carols Tobes from Guardian Driver Training said a more holistic approach was needed as some young drivers would be impacted by the proposed changes.
"It will impact upon drivers who have to work odd hours or shift workers or those who study late. I don't think it will be useful in the long run," he said.
"I think the system we have at the moment is pretty good, and we try to cover as much variety in our training."
In order for a young driver to receive their P-plate licence, they must pass a driving test from either an ACT government examiner or an accredited driving instructor.
Access Canberra figures show there has been a slight rise in the number of complaints about Canberra driving schools or instructors.
Nine complaints were lodged during 2017, compared to two in 2016 and one in 2015.
An Access Canberra spokeswoman said the complaints mainly were about "inappropriate behaviour", such as using a phone during a lesson, arriving late or finishing a student's lesson early.
P-plate driver Stephanie Wilde said she had no problems with her instructor when she was learning to drive.
The 19-year-old said she used a driving instructor in the final month before her driving test.
"I held off from doing the test at first because I wasn't confident, but I managed to pass straight away," she said.
The P-plate driver said she thinks the proposed changes won't go down well with young people in Canberra.
"I understand that they want to keep us safe, but there are ways of approaching it," she said.
"I used to sometimes start work at 2.30am, and so I wouldn't be able to drive to work."
