Enabling rural communities is what’s needed, and lowering the driving age in Victoria from 18 to 17 to mobilise young people will be a part of the solution.
Victoria is the only state in Australia with a probationary driving age of 18.
In all other states it’s 17; in the Northern Territory it’s 16.5.
It’s as frustrating as it is isolating for Victorian 17 year olds who need to get to work, their apprenticeship, school, sport or their weekend job.
With little to no public transport, driving is the only option. and the VFF believes that skill, rather than age, should determine when young people are ready to get behind the wheel. With this in mind, the VFF has advocated for the probationary driving age to be lowered.
Isolation is toxic, and with the rise in mental health issues and unemployment, more needs to be done to unlock people and encourage community engagement.
The state government needs to recognise how isolation is limiting choice and stimulation in rural Victoria, and contributing to these challenges.
Lowering the legal driving age would reduce the impact of isolation and burden on families caused by distance and lack of public transport. It would also address competitive disadvantage for rural businesses by bringing our driving laws into alignment with other states and territories.
Accessing the workplace is a significant challenge for young people unable to drive independently.
Young staff need to be transported to and from their place of employment, with this burden often falling on a parent or family member. This adds to production costs, and ultimately affects farm business bottom line.
Of course, the risks of lowering the legal driving age must also be assessed.
But necessary measures are already in place to ensure young drivers are adequately skilled and trained.
The current learner permit and probation system includes 120 hours of supervised driving and the probationary restrictions on passengers – including mobile phone use and blood alcohol levels – are comprehensive in mitigating risks.
Reducing the probationary driving age would be a step towards ensuring young people in rural areas are able to engage in what their communities have to offer.
