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Latrobe L2P Program Ready For Another Year On The Road Nationals Member for Morwell Russell Northe announced the Latrobe Community L2P program will be continuing for another three years in the Latrobe Valley at the programs’ 2012 launch today. By Russell Northe - 23rd April 2012 - Back to News Mr Northe said the Latrobe Community L2P – learner driver mentor program is one of many working with VicRoads to provide communities with the resources needed to assist disadvantaged learners to become safer drivers.
Mr Northe said the Latrobe Community L2P Program has also recently received a share of $10.5 million program funding boost to continue their work to encourage safe and responsible driving.
"We know that learners who complete 120 hours of supervised on-road driving experience have a 30 per cent lower crash rate for the first two years on their P-plates, compared with those who have only 50 hours of practice," Mr Northe said.
"However some young learners in the community simply do not have access to a vehicle or supervising driver to achieve the 120 hours practice required. This program addresses that issue.
The Latrobe Community L2P program was launched with the help of VicRoads and offers support to learners preparing to sit their probationary licence test. Each learner is paired with a trained supervising driver and provided with access to a vehicle to clock up 120 hours of on-road driving experience.
"The Latrobe Community L2P Learner Driver Mentor Program is a fantastic initiative, and I have the great privilege of chairing the local steering committee," said Mr Northe.
"It aims to reduce road trauma trends associated with young people, through the provision of structured, supervised driver practice in accordance with VicRoads requirements.
"Furthermore, the objective is to increase equity of opportunity through specific resourcing and better prepare disadvantaged young people to attain the 120 hours of driving experience necessary for them to obtain their Probationary Drivers Licence."
Latrobe Community L2P Project Worker Jennifer Murray said the program is open to young people aged 16 to 20 years who reside in the Latrobe municipality.
"There are many young people in our community who face difficulties in accessing the support and resources they need to achieve the 120 hours of driving experience required for obtaining their probationary drivers licence.
"Through recruiting and training volunteers from the local community to become supervising drivers, the L2P program ensures these young people receive the support they need to get their licence, while at the same time advocating safe and lawful driving practice. The matching of the volunteer and learner driver also promotes a positive mentoring relationship encouraging connectedness with the local community."
russell.northe@parliament.vic.gov.au www.russellnorthe.com.au 66 George St, Morwell VIC 3840 ph 03 5133 9088 fax 03 5133 9388
Mr Northe said the L2P program is delivered by VicRoads through local councils and community groups to ensure disadvantaged community members have the chance to practice for their probationary licence test.
"The L2P program is highly valued by the communities in which it operates, providing young people with the opportunity to get their licence and the freedom to access work and education opportunities.
"Recent focus groups revealed many L2P participants believed their driving behaviour had improved since joining the program. They no longer participate in unlicensed or dangerous driving and discourage this behaviour in their friends," Mr Northe said.
There are currently 55 L2P programs in operation across 60 local government areas throughout the state, providing 11,000 hours of practice per quarter. The program has assisted over 250 learners to get their licence, with a further 1,120 learners on the road. The program is run by VicRoads and funded by the Transport Accident Commission (TAC).
If you would like further information about the Latrobe L2P Program, please contact Jennifer Murray: L2P Project Manager at Berry Street Gippsland on 03 5134 5971.
Source: www.gippsland.com Published by: news@gippsland.com
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