An Andrews Labor Government will make the largest ever investment in driver training and education for our kids, to reduce the road toll and cement Victoria as the world leader in road safety.
Opposition Leader Daniel Andrews visited Metec Driver Training in Bayswater North today to announce Road Safety Starts Early, a $146 million plan to arm kids with the skills and support they need to become safe drivers.
Labor will build the world’s first dedicated road safety education complex, so young drivers get face to face with the devastating aftermath of unsafe driving, bad decisions and road trauma.
The $80 million Crash and Trauma Education Centre will be the global hub for road safety, featuring simulators, exhibitions and presentations from victims and emergency workers. The centre, which will also run diversionary programs for repeat offenders, will bring experts to Victoria and take our road safety initiatives to the world.
Labor will also enrol every Year 10 student in a free defensive driving course, so young people will know about road risks, not just road rules. The $24.4 million plan will give every student a spot in a half-day course by 2018. Completing the course will become a mandatory requirement of a probationary licence.
A Labor Government will fund a program to help disadvantaged young people obtain their drivers licence if they don’t have access to a car, deterring unlicensed driving and boosting skills for future employment. The L2P Program, which is managed by VicRoads, matches disadvantaged young people with a trained supervisor. The Liberals cut the program and it will cease next year. But Labor’s $16 million plan will secure it.
Labor will also reward the most responsible young drivers with a free three-year licence. Under the $7 million plan, drivers who have completed four years on P plates with no road offences will be eligible.
39 people killed on the roads in 2013 had stimulant drugs in their system. A Labor Government will equip Victoria Police with $15 million for more Drug/Booze Buses and increased drug testing capacity.
Quotes attributable to Mr Andrews
“Every parent fears that knock on the door in the middle of the night. There’s nothing worse than losing a child.”
“If we put our kids face to face with the consequences of bad decisions behind the wheel, we can make them think twice and potentially save their life.”
“Our plan will make sure that young people know about the risks of driving, not just the rules of driving.”
Key facts:
• Labor will offer $1.6 million in grants for community groups, and $2 million to create a communication fund for young people, to develop campaigns and ideas to help reduce road trauma. Labor will also hold six road safety forums with young people across Victoria, so our most vulnerable drivers can have their say.
• Almost one in five drivers killed on Victorian roads in 2013 were aged between 18 and 25.