A local politician is advocating to lower Victoria’s probationary driving age to 17, bringing it in line with other states and reducing disadvantages for young people in regional rural areas.
Victoria is currently the only state or territory in Australia that still requires P-plate drivers to be aged 18 or over.
Nationals’ Northern Victorian MP Gaelle Broad urges the government to lower the age, saying the move would be a game-changer for many families.
“It’s really holding local kids back, by lowering the age to 17 – in line with other states – it gives them opportunity to explore that apprenticeship or education opportunities or get to medical assistance,” Broad says.
“There’s lots of pressure on [local] families.”
The Shadow Minister for Roads and Road Safety, Danny O’Brien is also calling for change.
He believes there are “significant advantages in allowing teenagers to get their licence a year earlier, especially for those in rural areas seeking employment, training and further study and across the state it would assist young apprentices to get to and from work.
“P-plates at 17 is the policy in every other state and there is no evidence of increased safety issues in those states,” O’Brien says,
“Our young people need all the help they can get to get a good start in life and career and getting their licence a year earlier helps just a little bit.”
Broad tells Robbo on the Wake Up Call that she was contacted by a local mum whose son, Lachie, would love to start looking for an apprenticeship or a school-based apprenticeship but is unable to do so in this state until he is 18 – due to no options to get there without a car.
“If he were living in Melbourne, he would have a much better chance of pursuing this dream due to
the availability of public transport,” Broad says.
“His Mum already drives over 1,000km weekly to provide her kids with a fraction of the opportunities that
City kids get.”
Broad says it’s time Victoria catches up with the rest of Australia.
“The Nationals have been advocating for this for ages!” Broad says.
“I’ve raised it with the minister and hope to see a change.”
The Nationals – in partnership with the Liberals – took the policy to the most recent state election and back in 2006, the Victorian Nationals launched a youth policy in Bendigo, which included lowering
the state’s driving age to 17.
“All Victorian 17-year-olds should be allowed the opportunity to drive with a provisional license,
provided they have met the requirements,” Broad says.
“If they have completed their 120 hours of driving, passed the hazard test, and the P-plate test, and proven themselves to be safe drivers, then they should be allowed their driver’s license, or at the very least, a rural ‘restricted license’.
