No plans to lower driving age in Victoria despite petition

A PETITION to reduce the probationary driving age to 17 in Victoria has gained more than 2,000 signatures but the Department of Transport and Planning has no plans of changing the law soon.

The online petition, which is open until April 30, has been lodged in state parliament and highlights that Victoria is the only state or territory in Australia that still requires probationary licence holders to be aged 18 years or over.

“In Victoria, young people living in rural and regional areas with limited or no public transport are disadvantaged, and not everyone has a friend or family member to ferry them around,” the petition stated.

“Reducing the minimum probationary driving age to 17 years in line with other states will remove barriers for young people and open doors for educational and employment opportunities.

“The petitioners therefore request that the Legislative Council call on the government to reduce the minimum probationary driving age to 17 years and provide incentives for learner drivers to do professional driver training, like those offered in New South Wales.”

A Department of Transport and Planning spokesperson explained why the existing law was in place.

“While we’re not currently considering lowering the driving age, we’re always looking at ways we can improve the settings in Victoria,” the spokesperson said.

“Young drivers continue to have more crashes resulting in death and serious injury than any other group of motorists on the road, that’s why there is a driving age of 18 in place in Victoria.”