A YOUNG man joined a 100 club last month by celebrating passing his driving test as part of a learner driver mentorship program.
Frankston resident Trent became the 100th driver to get a driver’s licence and P-plates after taking advantage of the Frankston Council backed L2P Learner Mentor Driver Program.
The program, funded by the Transport Accident Commission and managed by VicRoads with the support of the RACV Drive School, sees mentor drivers teach disadvantaged youngsters how to drive before the big day of the driving test.
Frankston mayor Cr Brian Cunial congratulated Trent and volunteer mentor driver John Davidson on the driving licence achievement for Trent.
“The road to getting your driver’s licence is often paved with a few speed bumps. But getting the required hours of experience is one less bump for our local youth to worry about,” Cr Cunial said.
Mr Davidson has participated in the program for over eight years and helped eight students obtain a driver’s licence.
“This has been a great joy to both myself and the students seeing them get over a large hurdle and advance in life with a licence,” said Mr Davidson.
“I congratulate Trent on getting his licence and the amount of training he has dedicated in getting there.”
Since the L2P program began in 2010, more than 190 learners have collectively put in about 10,000 hours of learning to drive time with the help of 83 mentor volunteers.
Mentors must pass checks to be eligible to volunteer and checks funded by the L2P program.
See frankston.vic.gov.au or call 1300 322 322 for information about the L2P program as a learner driver or to enquire about volunteering as a mentor driver.