General News
17 March, 2025
Calls grow to drop P-Plate age
A petition with 1,740 signatures has reignited calls for Victoria to lower the probationary driving age to 17, bringing it in line with other Australian states and territories.
A petition with 1,740 signatures has reignited calls for Victoria to lower the probationary driving age to 17, bringing it in line with other Australian states and territories.
Currently, Victoria remains the only state where P-plate drivers must be 18 years or older, a rule that Nationals MP, Gaelle Broad, argues is a disadvantage to young people in rural and regional areas.
"People who live in rural and regional areas often do not have access to public transport to get to work, apprenticeships or study. They rely on their families to transport them to and from these commitments, but not everyone has someone who can drive them around when they need it," Ms Broad said
The issue was previously raised in 2017, but the government rejected the proposal, citing concerns about increased road fatalities among young drivers.
Despite these concerns, Ms Broad brought the issue back to Parliament in July 2024, and she intends to raise it again when Parliament resumes next month.
“I was contacted by many young people and their families who are very keen to see the P-plate age lowered. One young driver said: ‘a lot of kids would be absolutely stoked’."
Local driving instructor Peter Bowen, from Grampians Driving School, teaches dozens of young residents from the Ararat region how to drive each year.
He acknowledges the need for change but highlights potential challenges.
“This has been on the back burner for a while, and my concern it is are they doing to keep the 120 hours, if so, they will have to lower the age to get the learner permit, because 120 hours is a lot to get in 12 months," he said.
Currently the requirements for L-plate drivers is completion of 120 hours of driving with 20 of those hours dedicated to night time driving.
Mr Bowen, who is part of the Australian Driver Trainers Association Victoria, suggests an alternative approach.
"I’d be more in favour of a system where the learner driver is required to do a mandatory number of professional driving lessons with a driving instructor. I’d be then suggesting they’d also need to apply for an exemption to get a licence at 17."
He believes young drivers should have to apply through VicRoads or the Department of Transport, with exemptions granted based on employment or education needs. Admitting it wouldn’t be fair to separate metro and rural drivers, Mr Bowen says it is also essential that young drivers are mature enough to handle the responsibility.
“It’s all well and good to look at 17 and be in line with other states, however recent statistics are 18% of our P-plate drivers are representing in our fatalities," he said.
Mr Bowen worries that lowering the driving age without proper safeguards could lead to more accidents.
Young drivers move from having the lowest to the highest chance of being involved in a fatal crash when they gain their P1 Licence, with 18–25-year-olds only account for 10% of Victorian licence holders, they account for 18% of drivers killed with the riskiest time is in the first three to six months of driving.
To prevent abuse of the system, Mr Bowen suggests a strict approval process for 17-year-olds applying for an exemption.
"It’s got to be stringent, otherwise it'll be abused. If they are going for a job, it’s not just to say, ‘Joe Blow will give me a job if I’ve got a licence.’ We need something from the employer to say, ‘I have interviewed this young person.’ The employer has said ‘I have a position for them if they have a licence.’"
He also believes professional driving lessons should be required before any exemption is granted.
"It has its place, but there has to be checks and measures. It’s ultimately going to come down to the government and the Department of Transport and comes down to those who want to push it. I think an application is the way to go."