Cash to cut crashes

YOUNG driver safety has received a $10.05 million boost for the continuation of the L2P program.
The L2P program pairs learner drivers with trained supervising drivers and provides access to a vehicle for practice.
The program is delivered by VicRoads through local councils and community groups to ensure disadvantaged learners have the chance to clock up 120 hours of driving practice before sitting for their probationary licence test.
The program has been so popular in the Yarra Ranges that a second car was needed to get more young people involved.
“We know that learners who complete 120 hours of supervised on-road driving experience have a 30 per cent lower crash rate for the first two years on their P-plates, compared with those who only have 50 hours of practice,” Minister for Roads Terry Mulder said.
“However, some young learners simply don’t have access to a car or someone to supervise them to achieve the 120 hours practice required.
“This program pairs them up with volunteers who support them to practice and become much safer drivers.”
“The response from the community has been fantastic with almost 1400 volunteer mentor drivers signed up to contribute their time,” Mr Mulder said.
He said there were currently 55 L2P programs across 60 local government areas throughout the state which provide 11,000 hours of practice per quarter.
The program has helped more than 250 learners get their licence with a further 1120 learners on the road.
“The L2P program gives disadvantaged young people the opportunity to get their licence, which can often then help them get a job or access further education,” he said.
“Recent focus groups revealed many L2P participants believed their driving behaviour had improved since joining the program.
“They no longer participate in unlicensed or dangerous driving and, importantly, they discourage this behaviour in their friends.”
In 2009, road safety data ranked the Yarra Ranges Council first out of 79 municipalities for the number of people killed in road crashes and sixth in 2008 for the number of people seriously injured in road crashes.
There is now a waiting list for learners to be matched with mentors, particularly in the Upper Yarra and Healesville regions.
Mentors are trained to become supervising drivers and are then matched up with a young person who would not otherwise be able to gain the required number of hours practice. For more information on becoming a mentor contact Yarra Ranges Council Youth Services on 9294 6716.