Southern Grampians Shire Council has a new sustainable hybrid fleet car for the Southern Grampians TAC L2P Program.
The Toyota RAV 4 car will replace the Toyota Corolla that is being retired after several years of use.
The highly successful TAC L2P Program has been coordinated by Council since 2016 and has helped over 70 young drivers progress from their Learner's Licence to Probationary Licence.
Council's CEO Tony Doyle said the Program could not run without the dedication of its volunteer mentors from all corners of the Shire.
"We currently have 15 mentors involved with the program, which is outstanding," said Mr Doyle.
"The fact that these people give up their time regularly to help young people hone their driving skills and build up their practice hours is very much appreciated."
Mr Doyle said Council also worked closely with other youth-related agencies on the popular initiative, including WDEA, through its Transition to Work program.
"In regional areas like ours, where there is restricted public transport, many young rural people will require a driver's licence so they can travel to study or work," said Mr Doyle.
"Council is pleased to provide a safe car for program participants to use. The hybrid model will also save on fuel costs to the program, which is a bonus."
The L2P Program assists eligible Victorian learner drivers aged 16 to 21 to gain important driving experience with a trained volunteer mentor.
Participants use program-dedicated vehicles to gain the mandatory 120+ hours of driving practice required to apply for a probationary licence.
Learner drivers are provided with the opportunity to gain that essential driving experience with trained volunteer mentors for a minimum of one hour per week, whilst also providing access to driving lessons with a professional driving instructor.
The TAC L2P Program is funded by the Transport Accident Commission, managed by the Department of Transport, and coordinated by Southern Grampians Shire Council.
