Learner and young drivers in Victoria, Australia, must learn to drive in the dark.

A government campaign to gain more training and experience driving after dark is bing launched.

The Transport Accident Committee’s (TAC) ‘Parental Control’ campaign urges learner drivers to ensure their driving practice hours include enough night driving. It reminds parents of learners to talk to their children about the dangers of night-time driving and encourages supervised practise.

Dark times

The scheme is based on new research showing disproportionate numbers of crashes. New drivers are seven times more at risk of being killed or injured while driving at night. This is despite lower numbers driving after daylight hours.

An average of 31 first-year P-platers are killed or seriously injured at night each year in the area. Approximately 50,000 new drivers hit the roads annually in the Victoria area. However, the numbers driving at night are lower than daytime, but casualties higher.

“The more experience our learner drivers get in at night and in bad weather, the better equipped they will be to be safe solo drivers. At least 20 of the 120 learner hours must be at night, but I encourage all young people to get many more,” Said Minister for Roads and Road Safety, Ben Carroll.

Shedding light

The new campaign will run until mid-May online, on TV, radio and at petrol stations.

More information is available on the TAC website.