The Regional Youth Driver Education program has arrived in Busselton providing an opportunity for volunteers to mentor learner drivers so they can complete 50 hours of supervised driving.
Many young people find it difficult to complete their 50 hours of driving experience required to obtain a WA driver's licence for a variety of reasons.
Sometimes they might not have access to a vehicle, a qualified person to spend all of those hours in the passenger seat or cannot afford driving lessons.
The RYDE program connects learner drivers with volunteer mentors and a designated program vehicle which is used in the supervised driving session, so learner drivers can get their licence and all of the opportunities that come with it.
RYDE providers (which are community-based agencies) identify young people aged between 16 and 25 years who have barriers to achieving the required driving hours and refer them to the program.
The learner drivers need to have enough experience to be able to competently operate a vehicle before they can participate in the program.
Each 90 minute session costs $15 for the learner driver.
RYDE volunteers register online or through the Busselton-Dunsborough Volunteer Centre to participate in the program and mentor learner drivers.
The RYDE program was started in 2015 by the Town of Bassendean's youth services when the requirement for 50 hours of driving experience was introduced in WA, and was recently awarded the YMCA organisational achievement award.
It has been adopted by the Cities of Bunbury, Cockburn, Mandurah and now Busselton.
RYDE program manager Colin Anker said the driving hours law was introduced after research showed the more time a learner driver spent with a supervised driver the less likely they were to be involved in an accident.
"The program helps people overcome barriers for those who do not have an experienced driver or they do not have a parent or guardian who is able to take them out," he said.
"It also helps people who do not have access to a road worthy vehicle."
To register as a volunteer please visit ryde.org.au/south-west-ryde or contact the Busselton-Dunsborough Volunteer Centre on 9754 2047.
