Putting Young Driver Safety First With Youthsafe

Road crashes account for 45% of all fatalities among Australian youth. From behavioural attributes to the driving environment, many factors contribute to these accidents. These factors necessitate that young driver safety interventions be comprehensive and multi-tiered—a need that Youthsafe is dedicated to fulfilling.

Want to know more about our work with young people? Send us a message.

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Why Young Drivers’ Safety Needs Our Attention

The statistics surrounding young drivers are alarming. Almost 50% of all hospitalisations of young Australians are drivers, and another 25% are passengers.

Additionally, a 17-25 year-old P1 licence holder is four times more likely to be the victim of a fatal car crash than a driver over the age of 26.

These figures are shocking, and experts reveal that speeding, distraction, driving under the influence, and fatigue are the leading causes for young Australians to be involved in serious road crashes. Other factors that put young drivers at risk include driving without a seat belt or riding a motorbike without a helmet.

Young Drivers’ Safety

All these are often due to a lack of experience, immaturity and lifestyle choices that, when combined, create a far riskier scenario for young drivers.
At Youthsafe, we believe in a holistic approach where novice drivers, parents, driving instructors and teachers work together to ensure that young drivers get the support and guidance they need to learn safe driving skills and stay safer on the road.

Youthsafe Programs For Young Driver Safety

Young road users need to understand the responsibility that they shoulder every time they enter a vehicle. Novice drivers and passengers rarely understand the gravity of this, making road safety programs, resources, and interventions that much more important.

For many young people, driving is their first taste of adult independence, which can sometimes overshadow the need to pay attention to important road safety rules such as keeping to the speed limit, driving sober/drug-free, and avoiding distractions like texting and other passengers.

To ensure that young drivers and passengers know their responsibilities and have the right tools, Youthsafe is running several programs teaching key areas of young drivers’ safety

Programs For Teachers & Instructors

safer drivers

Safer Drivers Course

A paid course aimed at providing facilitator and coach training for the Safer Drivers Course.

Those interested in becoming a coach or facilitator of this program will first be required to complete and submit an Expression of Interest (EOI) form and meet all Youthsafe’s program participation requirements.

classroom safety

Classroom Safety Sessions

Interactive 40-60 minute classroom sessions for various ages.

These road safety sessions explore the challenges teen drivers face, the responsibilities of being a passenger of a teen driver, and the impact of distractions when driving, making it ideal for pre-learner and learner drivers and their passengers.

Programs For Community Organisations

Learner Driver

Volunteer Learner Driver Mentor (LDMP) Training

Face-to-face training or online training for groups of volunteer driver mentors is conducted at your convenience.

Our paid, full-day face-to-face training for groups of up to 15 volunteer mentors can be conducted in any part of the state as an interactive workshop, or you can choose our award-winning, six-part free online training.

Get a Licence

Supporting Young People to Get a Licence

This program is typically delivered as a project with a set number of young people.

The project provides access to group driver safety training and one-on-one mentoring sessions, Youthsafe’s young driver safety resources, professional driving instruction and some financial reimbursements for licensing costs.

Driver Licensing Access Program

Driver Licensing Access Program (DLAP)

This is a state-wide program of Transport for NSW to help people (of any age) who have difficulty getting their driver licence.

We provide the DLAP services that enable eligible persons living in the Local Government Areas of Hornsby, Ku-ring-gai, Hawkesbury, Ryde, Campbelltown and Sydney City to acquire a Learner licence or get their Red P licence.

Programs For Parents

Driving Workshops

Teen Safe Driving Workshops

The workshop is an opportunity for parents and their pre-learner or learner driver to work together in tackling the challenges of securing the minimum 120 logbook hours required before taking the driving test.

It also provides tips on ways to prepare for the first months of solo driving in the P1 Red licence period.

Drive eBook

Ls to Ps: Teaching Aussie Teens to Drive eBook: A practical guide to teen safe driving

Written, practical advice that lends a helping hand to parents and learners alike.

It contains useful advice about teaching the more challenging aspects of manoeuvring a car as well as useful tips for establishing and maintaining a great ‘working’ relationship for effective teaching and learning.

Learner Driver Resources

Youthsafe Resources

Infographics

Useful infographics, including youth injury facts and tips to keep young people safe.

Tips

Ideas for parents to consider to get the best outcome for themselves and their young drivers.

Youthsafe Resources

Road User’s Handbook

Covers the main road rules and requirements for driving on NSW roads.

Road Rules

Pre-learners, learners and experienced drivers need to have a clear understanding of current road rules.

What Our Community Says About Us

Slide

Research from NSW indicates that 15- to 25-year-olds have a 75 per cent greater chance of being injured at work

SAFEWORK NSW 2017

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Research from NSW indicates that 15- to 25-year-olds have a 75 per cent greater chance of being injured at work

SAFEWORK NSW 2017

Slide 3

Research from NSW indicates that 15- to 25-year-olds have a 75 per cent greater chance of being injured at work

SAFEWORK NSW 2017

Our Partners

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Transurban logo
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Invest in the safety of young Australian drivers by working with Youthsafe—a trusted partner that has worked with governments, businesses, and community organisations to prevent young Australians from suffering avoidable road accidents through highly responsive programs.

FAQs

Have more questions about the services that Youthsafe offers to protect young drivers and passengers?
See if we’ve answered your questions below.

How does Youthsafe help improve young driver safety?


Through Youthsafe, NSW, and Federal Government resources and our programs, we help young Australian drivers get the right safety education from the onset.

From road rules to do’s and don’ts, we make sure that young drivers get a holistic understanding of their responsibilities as a driver, the role they play in road safety, passenger safety, and the consequences of irresponsible driving.

Do you only have programs for young or novice drivers?


No. At Youthsafe, one of our beliefs is that young drivers need support before and after they start driving. This is why we’re offering programs to teachers and instructors, parents, and community organisations to provide the best support for the next generation of drivers and build a road-use safety culture.

Plus, a few of our programs are aimed at people of many ages so that anyone can get the support they need to get their driver licence.

Do you offer safe driving programs for high school students?


Yes. Our interactive road safety sessions for high school students give practical strategies for Year 10 & 11 students for safer driving. This 50-minute session helps students identify and navigate the road safety risks they face as young drivers and passengers and is aligned with the NSW PDHPE & Life Ready Syllabus.

You can learn more about it or express your interest in our 2024 sessions here.

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