Published: 5 October 2023
Getting your driver's license at 16 is an exciting and sometimes nerve-racking time. Starting with learning the road code to pass your learners test, being tested on the roads for your restricted, and then finally taking the steps needed to gain a full licence. The process may seem smooth, but it isn’t always for some. Motivation can be hard to find when support is low and barriers like costs are high.
Young drivers are one of the most vulnerable on the roads. In a Communities at Risk register for Lower Hutt, young drivers rank the second highest road safety factor with 8 DSI (Death and Serious Injury) for every 100 million vehicle kilometres. This shows we need to do better by our young people.
In the Hutt Valley, we are lucky to have a number of providers who help young people on their way to getting their driver’s licence. This includes Te Pūkenga (WelTec), He Tangata through Te Rūnanganui o Te Āti Awa and programmes offered by marae and others.
Today we’ll be talking about Youth Inspire, who is one of these awesome groups that help our young people. Youth Inspire’s Road Ready Rangatahi Driving School provides support for 16-24 years olds to get their learners, restricted and full drivers licenses, which in turn, supports them with getting into employment (you can learn more here - https://www.youthinspire.co.nz/driving-school). The programme specifically helps rangatahi who have limited access to driver license training and tests.
At Hutt City Council, we have a Road Safety Programme that provides funding to assist not-for-profit organisations in Lower Hutt, to implement projects that improve road safety in our communities. Projects are expected to deliver measurable benefits to road safety in accordance with the Government’s key priorities, as outlined in the Road to Zero Strategy. The Youth Inspire Road Ready Rangatahi Driving School ticks all the right boxes.
We provide financial support to cover the costs of the programme, as well as any other in-kind support as appropriate. With this support, Youth Inspire have been able to provide driving license training for approximately 500 rangatahi to date. Over the last financial year (1 July 2022 to 30 June 2023), 204 rangatahi have participated in the learner driver license part of the programme, with 91% passing their tests and getting their learners! For the restricted and full license driving programmes, there have been 86 attendees within that timeframe, with a 66% pass rate!
Youth Inspire provide great support for our young people, helping them get safely on the road and build their independence – ka pai!
Keen to help make a difference? Youth Inspire are looking for volunteer mentor drivers for their Road Ready Rangatahi Driving School initiative. Find out more here - https://www.youthinspire.co.nz/become-a-mentor