The Victorian driving age should be lowered to 17 and brought in line with other states nationwide, a Western Victorian MP has urged.
Vote 1 Local Jobs leader James Purcell will introduce a motion in Parliament on December 9 calling for the state government to review the driving age.
Mr Purcell took the policy to last year’s state election following parents’ concerns about their teenagers struggling to travel to work because of a lack of public transport.
If the motion passes, the driving age will be lowered by one year, with 15-year-olds able to sit learner tests and 21-year-olds getting their full licence.
Mr Purcell said the split probationary licence system, of red and green P-plates, would remain.
“In our area, where there is [poor] public transport options, 17-year-olds who need to get to an apprenticeship or work after school are being driven by their parents,” Mr Purcell said.
“We thought it was about time Victoria’s been brought in line with the rest of the country.”
Mr Purcell said it was experience, and not age, that contributed more to the road toll or car accidents.
According to VicRoads, some of the main causes of road crashes are inexperience, drink or drug-driving, mobile phone use and disobeying road rules.
