The Victorian Government has announced a new program aimed at helping learner drivers get on their provisional licences.
The Transport Accident Commission’s long-running L2P program now allows learners to be matched with fully licensed volunteer mentors and have access to a program car to gain supervised driver experience.
This initiative is being run in partnership with the Salvation Army, and is free for all learner drivers who meet the eligibility criteria.
It’s targeted at helping learner drivers aged between 16-21 years old who don’t have access to a supervising driver or vehicle obtain their mandatory hours needed to apply for a provisional license.
The program will start in the coming weeks within the Melbourne CBD area, while local councils have already kickstarted the initiative.
“This program is empowering more young people to learn to drive a car and get the support they need to gain their driver’s licence, making it easier for them to get to school, work or the shops,” said Melissa Horne, Minister for Roads and Road Safety.
It’s mandatory that learner drivers complete 120 hours of supervised driving in order to be able to apply for a provisional license.
Learners can apply for the initiative via the VicRoads website and will be required to meet criteria supplied by VicRoads. They must:
- Have a myVicRoads personal account
- Be aged between 16-21 years old (in some cases the government will consider those up to 23 years)
- Be an Australian citizen or permanent resident and not an overseas student
- Hold a current Victoria learner’s permit
- Not have access to a supervisor driver and/or vehicle
Volunteer supervisors will be required to meet certain criteria. They must:
- Hold a current full driver’s licence
- Be over the age of 21 years
- Have a satisfactory driver’s licence history report
- A valid Working with Children check
- Pass a national police check
Mentor drivers would ideally dedicate 1-2 hours per week to assist learner drivers obtain their log book hours.
The program is supported by $33.4 million worth of TAC funding through to 30 June 2023.
The TAC says it currently has 1500 volunteer mentors and an ‘ever-growing’ network of partners to provide support to the program.
Victorian Government says the L2P program has helped 16,000 young learner drivers through 58 programs, logging 693,757 hours and supporting more than 7300 participants to get their P-Plates since starting in 2008.
