TAC and RACV launches safe driving program for migrants

29 Feb 2012

MEDIA RELEASE: 29 February 2012

New migrants will benefit from an RACV road safety initiative aimed at helping them gain experience and training on the road.

The RACV New Arrivals Road Safety Program offers community groups that support new migrants:

• Driving lessons to help new arrivals gain on-road experience whilst being supervised by an experienced instructor
• Tuition for volunteer drivers who will supervise new arrivals when they are learner drivers on the road
• Road safety information sessions delivered by an RACV Drive School instructor on topics including Victorian road rules, road safety, how to get a licence and the Graduated Licensing System.

RACV Manager Road User Behaviour Melinda Congiu said RACV and the Transport Accident Commission (TAC) had undertaken research to learn more about the road safety issues facing new migrants.

"We found that mobility and licensing are the key issues faced by new arrivals as they attempt to integrate within their new communities," Ms Congiu said.

"There are road safety programs currently operating in Australia but we believe more needs to be done to support new migrants. They face particular challenges in understanding road rules and gaining a licence.

"Driving lessons are seen as an important element in helping new arrivals become mobile and participate in activities within the community however the cost of lessons is often a barrier for many of them."

The RACV New Arrivals Road Safety Program is supported by the TAC and will invite community groups conducting road safety programs for new arrivals to apply for funding to be used with the RACV Drive School. Successful groups will be able to use the funding to complement their existing road safety programs with driving lessons or road safety information sessions with accredited RACV driving instructors.

"It's a practical way of giving new migrants the skills and driving experience they need to obtain their licence and help them become integrated into their new community. We believe it will connect them with their new community and remove the issue of social isolation which can be a problem for new migrants and prevent them from feeling that they belong in their new environment," Ms Congiu said.

See here for more details on the driver program for migrants.