Driver mentors roll on

WOULD-BE drivers who are approaching 16 and don’t have a parent or other licensed driver to take them through their Learners may find that the L2P programis their answer.
The L2P Learner Driver Mentor Proram is for your people aged 16 to 21 years who have a learners’ permit but don’t have access to a vehicle or supervising driver to achieve the required 120 hours of supervised driving experience.
Run by Yarra Ranges Youth Services, the program is a community-based volunteer program where learner drivers are matched with fully licensed, trained, community volunteers.
Using a sponsored vehicle, the learner and mentor go out driving once a week, working towards 120 hours of driving practice.
L2P also incorporates up to seven free professional driving lessons with a registered driving instructor.
This aims to ensure the young people participating have some driving skills before being matched with their mentor.
The program incorporates both road safety and mentoring.
It is enormously beneficial for the young people who take part, but there are also benefits for the mentors.
Helping young people to gain the critical experience before heading out on to the roads as licensed drivers provides a great sense of achievement and satisfaction.
It’s a significant way of giving back to the community, provides opportunities to meet new people, develop new skills and add variety to day-to-day life.
Young people and mentors wanting to get involved can get more information from Yarra Ranges Youth Services on 9294 6716, email youthservices@yarraranges.vic.gov.au or visitww.yrys.com.