A new program is giving young Tasmanian drivers and their supervisors practical tools to build safer habits behind the wheel.
The Youth Road Safety Program, called Alongside, is being rolled out by the Tasmanian Government, the Royal Automobile Club of Tasmania (RACT) and the Road Safety Advisory Council.
Infrastructure and Transport Minister Kerry Vincent said the government is investing $8 million in youth road safety over the next five years.
“Importantly, $2 million of the funding is dedicated to improving road safety and licensing outcomes for disadvantaged youth,” Vincent said.
“Each year, around 300 Tasmanians are killed or seriously injured on our roads and young people aged between 17 and 25 are consistently overrepresented in this toll.”
Vincent said having a licence can be critical to connecting young people with education, employment and services, particularly in regional Tasmania.
As part of the program, Learning to Drive, Together workshops are being piloted across the state.
The first was held in July at the Kingborough Tigers Football Club in Kingston, followed by sessions in Devonport and with Clarence High School, with further pilots planned including on the West Coast.
RACT Group CEO Mark Mugnaioni said the workshops were developed after a year of talking to young Tasmanians, parents and driving supervisors.
“We know that the role of driver supervisors is critical to how safe young people are on the road when they get their P Plates,” Mugnaioni said.
“Over the last year, about once a week, a young Tasmanian is killed or seriously injured on our roads.”
RACT says half of supervisors described themselves as only “a little clear” on their role before the session, while 75% had never or only sometimes planned a practice drive in advance.
By the end, 80% felt more confident about the journey ahead.
The club also released five tips for learners and supervisors, including treating learning to drive as a partnership, planning each trip in advance and focusing on a variety of conditions rather than just logging hours.
Learner driver Xavier Vince said attending a workshop gave him a confidence boost ahead of his P-plate test in coming weeks.
“I was a bit worried about my Ps and what they’d be looking for, but I think once I knew exactly what they would be looking for … it was a real confidence boost to be able to go out there and practice it with Dad,” Xavier said.
His father Aaron Vince said the program was a valuable refresher after more than 30 years holding a licence.
“It was an opportunity for us parents to actually ask questions,” he said.
Kingborough Tigers president Dan Wylie said hosting the pilot extended the club’s social licence, with young players ageing out of junior pathways and looking for more independence.
“At our core we’re a community organisation,” Wylie said.
Tasmania’s approach was showcased at a global road safety session in Geneva, after which about $230,000 was awarded through the Fédération Internationale de l’Automobile (FIA).
That funding is separate to the $8 million partnership and will support a 12-month pilot from August 2026 expanding community trials in regional and rural areas.
