Youth Advisory Committee members Jack Gill (left) and Daniel Niutta have written to transport minister Stephan Knoll about the cancellation of driver testing in Gawler. PHOTO: Jack Hudson
GAWLER’s Youth Advisory Committee (YAC) has taken a stand against a State Government decision to discontinue learner’s on-road driving tests in Gawler, taking it upon themselves to write
to transport minister Stephan Knoll.
Comprised of youth in Gawler, the YAC is an official committee of Gawler Council that meets once a month to discuss issues affecting the area’s young people.
Last month, the State Government axed Gawler’s Vehicle On Road Test (VORT) route and closed the Gawler Driver Testing Centre without consultation, citing a decline in learner drivers utilising the service.
The move was slammed by local driving instructors, who will now have to meet students in Elizabeth to undertake the testing.
Now, the YAC is lending its voice to the debate, and has requested council give it permission to write to Mr Knoll with its concerns.
Gawler mayor Karen Redman said the YAC felt cutting the Gawler test created a “barrier” for local young people to get their licences.
“Members of the YAC were concerned that there had been no consultation with young people, driving instructors or the local community regarding the change,” she said.
“They also felt that there had been no consideration around the barriers for young people living in regional areas in obtaining their licences.
“It forces them to either travel to Elizabeth to undertake the test around an unfamiliar route, or undertake the logbook method, which is simply not achievable for some young people.”
Learner drivers currently have two options to obtain their provisional licence: undertaking the VORT test – an on-road test covering a range of driving skills that can be completed after as many tests as the learner wishes – or the competency based training (CBT) course, which is a series of lessons where learners are passed on each driving skill across the program.
Ms Redman said many young drivers in Gawler wouldn’t be able to afford the series of lessons needed to pass the CBT.
“A letter to the minister would highlight disappointment related to the lack of public consultation on the issue,” she said.
“It would also highlight that this is simply another barrier to young people in regional areas obtaining their licences.
“It would also speak to the consequences of these barriers.
“For example, social isolation and the inability to gain employment.”
