How do you get a driver’s licence if you can’t afford lessons?

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A local not-for-profit organisation is seeking feedback from the community to continue providing an essential service for learner drivers.

The L2P Murraylands program is geared towards youth and others who do not have access to a vehicle or supervisory driver on an ongoing basis.

Brooke Russell, who has been completing her learner permit hours with L2P, now has only 10 more hours to undergo.

Being from out of town, the program has helped Ms Russell gain more confidence behind the wheel.

"Getting my Ps is a huge step to being independent and getting about more," she said.

"Driving is such an important part of life ... plenty of people who live out of town can't rely on a motorbike license or need Ps to get to work."

Without a license, young people wouldn't be able to maintain a job or get to a TAFE course – they'd be stuck, Ms Russell said.

"Without (L2P) people would have nowhere to turn and be lost."

What do L2P need, and how can you help?

Peter Sawley, executive director of L2P Murraylands and one of the program's driving instructors, goes above and beyond for learners, doing home pick-ups and drop-offs.

He hoped L2P Murraylands could expand its current service to more areas around the Adelaide Hills region.

But he needs the community's feedback regarding the need for learners seeking to complete the South Australian Graduated Learner Driver Scheme.

The program aims to help vulnerable people such as victims of domestic violence, young people experiencing abuse, homelessness or unemployment. 

Peter Sawley said a lot of the people going through the program experienced financial or mental health struggles, or disabilities.

“We’ve got a whole lot of people saying there's a need,” he said.

“I’m (now) trying to get the people of Murray Bridge who believe that our program, which has been here for six years, has been worthwhile.”

Mr Sawley is asking anyone who has witnessed the program to complete a short survey regarding what benefits they have achieved.

Without the support provided by L2P instructors, many students in the program would not have been able to learn how to drive.

Currently L2P's five mentors offer driving lessons six days a week, with the seventh day in Mount Barker at a subsidised rate of $15.

“If we got money from the government … I might be able to reduce the $15 down to $10,” Mr Sawley said.

“We’re paying GST on that $15, so we’re only making $13.40, but I don’t believe in giving the kids something for nothing because they won’t appreciate it.

“To run our program is about $30,000 a year; out of our mentees we get $15,000-16,000 and the rest we have to fundraise.”

An expanded service would help the individuals around the Adelaide Hills region who are looking to obtain their licence but aren't able to do so due to affordability issues. 

Other states like Queensland, New South Wales, Victoria, Tasmania and Western Australia already have fully funded programs exactly like the one Mr Sawley offers.

“(The government) think we’re coping pretty well but we’re struggling,” Mr Sawley said. 

“We don’t mind working … but we’re not getting the income and everybody is feeling the pinch, too.

“We’re doing more than just sitting in the car driving, we're also going through a whole lot more.”

Mr Sawley started the company when he was teaching kids at Murray Bridge High to get their white cards. 

“They weren’t applying for positions or getting anywhere and I said ‘what’s wrong?’... they hadn’t got a drivers licence.”

“I wanted to do something about it.”

He hoped that if Labor, Liberal and independent MPs agreed there was a definite need in the Adelaide Hills region, it could become a funded program.

“We need the community's backing.”

• Complete the survey: Click here if you're in the Murraylands, or here if you're in the Adelaide Hills; then save the PDF file and email a completed version to info@L2P.org.au, or drop it off at 25 Seventh Street, Murray Bridge or Vinnies Op Shop in Mount Barker.
• Read more: Join in ... with L2P Murraylands

Driving test prices could increase for Murraylands learners

Meanwhile, the state government recently introduced a bill into parliament to address corruption and predatory behaviour by driving instructors, to improve motorists' skills and – supposedly – reduce costs for learners.

The proposal suggests using government examiners rather than private operators and changing to a vehicle on-road test. 

The price of the test would be standardised state-wide to $240.

While this would benefit some students closer to Adelaide, Mr Sawley said rural kids would be disadvantaged. 

The test fee in Murray Bridge was $190, and kids were already struggling to pay it, Mr Sawley said. 

“Depression and anxiety is going to increase,” he said.

“Is this really the best way to solve a problem?”

In a statement, Minister for Infrastructure and Transport Tom Kousantonis said the changes would benefit students, who would obtain more confidence from higher training standards.

“The changes will create a safer environment for learner drivers, while cleaning up the corruption, misconduct and low standards in the industry,” he said.