Learner drivers who complete a first aid course are to be able to sit for their drivers’ licence test sooner following a change to the ACT’s Graduated Licensing Scheme.
Announced by the Minister for Transport, Chris Steel, learner drivers are to receive a “five-hour discount” from their 100-hour requirement of supervised driving for completing a new free e-learning course from St John Ambulance Australia.
“We’re supporting 2022 National and ACT Senior Australian of the Year, Val Dempsey in her work to educate learner drivers by incentivising the take up of this new first aid training,” Mr Steel said.
“This free 30-minute online first aid course will provide new drivers with basic first aid skills to respond to road injuries if they’re the first on scene at a road traffic collision,” he said.
“This training won’t just provide the skills that could save a life, it is a reminder to the next generation of drivers of the serious consequences that crashes have on our roads.”
Mr Steel said the Government would provide funding to Queensland University of Technology to undertake a formal evaluation of the course.
He said the evaluation would also explore potential for the first aid course’s expansion across Australia and whether the training should be mandatory to complete for all learner drivers.
Mr Steel said further information about the reduction in mandatory supervised learner driving hours would be made available in the coming months.
