New Government courses aim to reduce accidents on the road and provide extra driving hours for learner drivers in the ACT as an incentive. Photo: Region Media.
Two new programs worth a combined 30 driving hours will be delivered by the ACT Government to help keep learner drivers safe on the road.
The first, the Vulnerable Road User Program, will focus on how to safely share the road with cyclists, motorcycles and pedestrians, and consists of a self-directed learning component prior to attending a two-hour workshop. The program equates to 10 driving hours.
The second, the Safer Driver Course, will teach learner drivers how to reduce unsafe driving behaviours through a two-and-a-half-hour theory component and a one-hour driving component. It will equate to 20 driving hours.
Minister for Road Safety Shane Rattenbury said the Australian first Vulnerable Road User Program is part of the Government’s effort to move towards zero road deaths or injuries in the ACT.
“Provisional drivers are at the highest risk of crashing in the first six months of independent driving,” Mr Rattenbury said.
“I encourage all learner drivers to take advantage of these courses to understand more about driving in the ACT, sharing the road, and keeping themselves and other road users safe.”
The ACT Government recently changed the ACT driver licencing scheme to obtain a provisional car licence where L-plate drivers under the age of 25 must complete 100 supervised hours in a car, or 50 hours for those over 25, before being eligible to move to their P-plates.
L-plate drivers whose licence is set to expire between 23 March 2020 and 1 January 2021 will have it automatically extended by 12-months for free in response to the COVID-19 pandemic.
For course information, eligibility criteria and further information, visit www.act.gov.au/safeplates or contact roadsafety@act.gov.au. You can also contact Access Canberra on 13 22 81 for any questions about specific or individual circumstances.
Loading ...
