Safer and more affordable cars for young drivers in macedon

The Andrews Labor Government is giving more young people in Macedon the chance to save money and ditch their older model cars for a safer, more modern vehicle.

The unsafe2safe trial is now being expanded right across regional Victoria, with expressions of interest now open until 4 September 2022.

Up to 150 drivers across Regional Victoria, aged 18-25 years old, will take part in this phase of the program, which will provide a $5,000 subsidy to replace their unsafe and older vehicle with a safer, newer vehicle.

The trial aims to replace up to 1,000 unsafe vehicles that are more than 16 years old and have poor safety ratings with more modern vehicles that include safety features to help prevent crashes entirely – such features include Lane Keep Assist and Autonomous Emergency Braking systems.

Young drivers are at the greatest risk of being involved in a crash in their first few years of solo driving and young regional Victorians driving older cars are 15 times more likely to be killed in crashes compared with the state average.

With many young Victorians expressing cost as a key barrier in accessing safer vehicles, this program will help many get behind a safer wheel before hitting the road.

The first phase of the trial began last year in Ballarat and Bendigo with young Victorians who participated now reaping the benefits of driving a safer vehicle.

The targeted program is part of Victoria’s Road Safety Action Plan under the Victorian Road Safety Strategy 2021-2030, which focuses on groups that are over-represented in road trauma.

Sadly in 2022, 148 people have died on Victorian roads, compared to 130 this time last year.

For more information on eligibility and to apply for the Unsafe2Safe trial, visit engage.vic.gov.au/unsafe2safe

Quotes attributable to Member for Macedon, Mary-Anne Thomas
"Young drivers across Macedon can now apply to take part in the unsafe2safe trial and head out on the roads more safely."

"This program is critical to ensuring young drivers right across Macedon can purchase a vehicle that will not only prevent serious road accidents, but more importantly, save their life."