Should the government increase the number of hours learner drivers need to complete?

English Essay

Should the government increase the number of hours learner drivers need to complete?

There have been widespread rumours going around Victoria in the past few months that the government are going to increase the amount of hours that learner drivers need to complete. Victorian learner drivers have to complete 120 hours of driving, 40 hours being completed at night. This is already a massive amount of hours, more than any other state in Australia and more than majority of countries. The government claims that the increase of hours is to increase safety on the road so we have more experienced drivers. Increasing the hours will only make the drivers more obliged to speed when they get their license because they have been waiting so long for it. Will the increase of hours make Victorian roads safer?

American learner drivers only have to complete 40 hours of accompanied driving before they can drive on the roads.

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Even other states in Australia for example Western Australia, only have to complete 20 hours of accompanied driving before they can drive on the roads. The Australian Bureau of Statistics show that the number of car crashes involving fatalities in Western Australia is more than half less of what Victoria's statistics are. This shows that the extra experience that Victoria drivers are getting is not making the roads any safer.

The whole reason behind the ridiculous amount of hours for learner drivers is so that when they make the transition to P plates that they are safer on the road. Young people are always going to be reckless on the road. Learner drivers struggle to complete the 120 hours by the time they are 18. Increasing it will almost make it impossible. Getting your license when you are 18 is...