Citation

Freethy CJ. J. Australas. Coll. Road Saf. 2012; 23(4): 47-51.

Copyright

(Copyright © 2012, Australasian College of Road Safety)

DOI

unavailable

PMID

unavailable

Abstract

In 2007 Victoria introduced a new Graduated Licensing System (GLS) to improve young driver safety. Provisions included a 12 month minimum holding period for under 21 year olds and a requirement for this cohort to gain 120 hours on road experience prior to taking a probationary licence test. A two-stage, four year probationary licence was also introduced. The GLS was expected to reduce Victorian young driver injuries by up to 800 per year, and result in 12 fewer deaths. The L2P – learner driver mentor program was initiated as a result of the newly-introduced 120 hours on road experience requirement. It was recognised that while most learners would be able to gain 120 hours experience, some community members would struggle because they lacked a vehicle, a supervising driver or the means to purchase paid instruction. VicRoads identified that approximately 3,000 young people per year would have difficulty accessing a vehicle or supervising driver, and developed potential policy responses. Through this work pilots were established to trial a volunteer mentor scheme, in which fully licensed community members provided supervised driving experience to young people disadvantaged by the on road experience requirements. The Victorian Government subsequently determined it would provide $A9 million funding through the Transport Accident Commission to establish the L2P - learner driver mentor program.

Language: en