Geelong P-platers are urged to sign up to the world-first P Drivers Project to help beat the road toll, Victoria's Minister for Roads Terry Mulder said today (15 December 2011).

Mr Mulder said the first P Drivers Project session for Geelong kicked off last night at BRACE Education Training Employment centre in Brougham Street.

Mr Mulder said there are currently over 250 P-plate drivers who are in the process of signing up to participate in the Geelong area.

“Newly licenced drivers have the highest risk of crashes and this program aims to reverse that trend,” Mr Muder said.

“MyLiveTribe – as it’s known to participants, is the largest research trial of its type ever undertaken in the world which focuses on changing the behaviour of young drivers.

“So far 250 young drivers have signed up in Geelong, and it would be great to see even more young people get involved."

Mr Mulder said since it was launched on 18 October, over 3000 newly licensed drivers have signed up in Victoria and New South Wales.

The project aims to recruit 26,400 young drivers in Victoria and 1600 in NSW to participate in the trial.

Transport Accident Commission CEO, Janet Dore said that the trial needs high volumes of participants in order to make this project a real success.

“We would like to ask the people of Greater Geelong and surrounding region who may know a young driver, to encourage them to get involved and help keep them and their mates safe on our roads,” Ms Dore said.

“Program participation is open to all newly licensed P-plate drivers aged between 18-22 years who have held their licence for no more than 100 days.

“These drivers can sign-up on line at www.mylivetribe.com.au or by calling 1800 454 133.”

BRACE facilitator Ms Phoebe Morgan said that the MyLiveTribe program is very different to other programs she has facilitated.

“The program is not a typical lecture style learning experience, but was designed using the adult learning principles,” Ms Morgan said.

“Participants are more engaged and opened to engaging with each other and are willing to reflect on their own driving experiences.

“The first session participants were very enthusiastic to learn from each other on what can be done to become better drivers, to keep them and their mates safe.”

In Victoria the trial is being conducted in the greater Melbourne, Geelong, Ballarat, Bendigo and surrounding areas.

The $10 million trial of the P Drivers Project is jointly funded by the Victorian Government through VicRoads and the TAC, the New South Wales Government through Transport for NSW, the Australian Government through the Department of Infrastructure and Transport, Royal Automobile Club Victoria (RACV), NRMA Insurance and the Federal Chamber of Automotive Industries
(FCAI)

Click here for more information on the P Drivers Project.