LAW REFORM, ROAD AND COMMUNITY SAFETY COMMITTEE’S

LOWERING THE PROBATIONARY DRIVING AGE TO 17 YEARS

The Parliament of Victoria’s Law Reform, Road and Community Safety Committee is conducting an inquiry into LOWERING THE DRIVING AGE with particular reference to:

(1) the impacts of lowering the probationary driving age in Victoria to 17, including — (a) reviewing the licence structures in other Australian States, particularly the probationary

driving age;

The below driver fatality graphs are sourced from the Australian Government Department of Infrastructure and Regional Development “Australian Road Deaths Database”

https://bitre.gov.au/statistics/safety/fatal_road_crash_database.aspx

The period 2013 to 2015 shows the 17 year age group fatalities to be lesser than the 18-23 year age groups. Victoria is the only state in Australia that has the legal driving age at 18 years, if Victoria was to follow the other states by lowering the driving age to 17 years there could be a slight shift of fatalities from the 18 year age group to the 17 year age group.

What the road incident data does suggest is that in all states:

o Drivers under instruction are among the safest on our roads.

o That newly license young drivers are initially providing safe driving performances

o That at about the age of 25 to 27 years there is a sharp increase in (spike) is the

road incident data.

At ages 25 to 27 years when they are ‘over represented’ in accident statistics we know

that drivers have the knowledge and skills as they have passed their driving assessments

and have some years of experience. Further investigation and analysis is warranted but it

seems most likely is that poor attitude toward the responsibility of driving has impacted

driver performance. Factors might include over-confidence or a blasé attitude.

(b) assessing the links between the existing 18 year old probationary driving age and high youth unemployment in regional areas;

The Victorian leaner driver age requirement places a unique constraint on our youth’s

access to employment, educational and other activities which require the freedom of travel

offered by a driver’s license while affording no quantifiable benefit.

(c) reviewing the impacts of separating the legal driving age and legal drinking age;

Wodonga Institute of TAFE has not answered (1) (c)

(d) considering relevant international licensing models and the positive and negative impacts of such; and

Wodonga Institute of TAFE has not answered (1) (d)

(e) assessing the correlation between a reduced probationary driving age and the road toll;

• Analysis of road incident data which includes the driver’s age offers no trend or pattern which separates Victorian young drivers from young drivers of other states despite the differenced in learner driver age requirements.

• Equipment – Cars are now safer than ever before and becoming safer.

Environment – Victoria’s road network is busier than ever before but it is also

better designed and maintained than ever before and is also improving.

• Weather conditions are relevant as drivers must ‘drive to the conditions’

however data which includes weather conditions is not available to DECA and

there is no reason to assume Victoria’s weather is more influential than other

states.

• Wodonga Institute of TAFE’s years of driver training experience suggest that younger drivers are easier to train that older drivers. In general they acquire skills more quickly and it might be that the attitude of younger drivers is easier to mould.

• Training – The purpose of training is to impart knowledge, skills & attitude with

attitude being the most difficult to change and assess.

(2) the adequacy of current transport infrastructure and services available to people of non-driving age, particularly in regional Victoria;

Wodonga Institute of TAFE has not answered (2)

(3) strategies to remove barriers for people of non-driving age to access employment, study and training.

Wodonga Institute of TAFE has not answered (3)

Executive Officer Law Reform, Road and Community Safety Committee Parliament House Spring Street, East Melbourne VIC 3002, or alternatively you can submit via e-Submission at www.parliament.vic.gov.au/lrrcsc

CLOSING DATE FOR SUBMISSIONS IS 30 May 2016

Further information regarding the inquiry can be obtained from the Committee secretariat on 03 8682 2845.