The Nationals’ Member for Northern Victoria Gaelle Broad said she had been contacted by many young people, parents and grandparents keen to see the probationary driving age reduced.
“I raised the issue in Parliament last year but was told the Minister had safety concerns with the idea,” Ms Broad said.
“As a parent of two P-platers and one L-plater, I agree that safety is crucial, and training is vitally important to ensure our young people are ready for the responsibility of driving solo.
“Any road accident statistic is a bad one, regardless of your age.
“But in Victoria right now you need to do more training to serve coffee than you do to drive on our roads.
“We require learner drivers to record 120 hours of driving in a logbook, but unless they have someone teaching them properly, at the end of it they may still not know how to park a car.”
Two States Driving School Instructor Natasha Bignell said she believes coming into line with the other states is a good thing.
“It will stop all the Vic Learners going to NSW and getting their licence early and breaking the law,” Ms Bignell said.
“Many of our young people have apprenticeships and jobs that having a probationary licence would be helpful for.
“Being more mature I don't think that is so much an age thing but more an individual thing.
“I have seen many students in my 14 years of teaching and they are all different. I believe 12 months doesn't make much difference.”
RoadSafe North East executive officer John Weinert agreed that this would benefit those needing to travel to work in rural areas.
“What is much more important is the skills that need to be learned by the young person - the 120 hours including professional instructor lessons is a must,” Mr Weinhert said.
“The L2P program is a good example of providing the young person with that learning. “This program should be available to all learner drivers.”
Ms Broad urged the Minister to consider the driver training programs used in New South Wales.
If a learner driver completes a one-day safer driving course, they earn 20 hours of credit on their logbooks and 10 hours of professional driving lessons will receive a further 20 hours of credit.
“I have been contacted by people across the state keen to see the law changed in Victoria, particularly in regional areas where there is limited or no public transport available, and not everyone has a parent or carer available to ferry them around,” Ms Broad said.
“Some teenagers were avoiding the rules by using a NSW address to get their licence. “For young people who have done the hours of training and are ready to drive safely on their own, a drivers licence opens doors to educational and employment opportunities, access to health services, to engage in community events and sports and to help others.”
In 2017, a parliamentary committee inquiry recommended Victoria lower the age to 17. The new petition closes on April 30 and can be found at www.parliament.vic.gov.au.
