The Andrews Labor Government is giving more young people in regional Victoria the chance to save money and ditch their older model cars for a safer, more modern vehicle.

Minister for Roads and Road Safety Ben Carroll today announced the expansion of the unsafe2safe trial right across regional Victoria, with expressions of interest now open until 4 September 2022.

Up to 150 drivers, aged 18-25 years old, will take part in this phase of the program, which will provide a $5,000 subsidy to replace their unsafe and older vehicle with a safer, newer vehicle.

The trial aims to replace up to 1,000 unsafe vehicles that are more than 16 years old and have poor safety ratings with more modern vehicles that include safety features to help prevent crashes entirely – such features include Lane Keep Assist and Autonomous Emergency Braking systems.

Young drivers are at the greatest risk of being involved in a crash in their first few years of solo driving and young regional Victorians driving older cars are 15 times more likely to be killed in crashes compared with the state average.

With many young Victorians expressing cost as a key barrier in accessing safer vehicles, this program will help many get behind a safer wheel before hitting the road.

The first phase of the trial began last year in Ballarat and Bendigo with young Victorians who participated now reaping the benefits of driving a safer vehicle.

The targeted program is part of Victoria’s Road Safety Action Plan under the Victorian Road Safety Strategy 2021-2030, which focuses on groups that are over-represented in road trauma.

Sadly in 2022, 148 people have died on Victorian roads, compared to 130 this time last year.

For more information on eligibility and to apply for the Unsafe2Safe trial, visit engage.vic.gov.au/unsafe2safe.

Quotes attributable to Minister for Roads and Road Safety Ben Carroll

“We know that cost is a real barrier for many young Victorians when it comes to choosing a safe and modern car – that is why this program is critical in ensuring they pick a vehicle with features that could ultimately save their life.”

“Around 70 per cent of people who have lost their lives on our roads were in vehicles more than ten years old and being in a safer vehicle can make the difference between ending up in hospital or avoiding a crash altogether.”

Quotes attributable to Chief Regional Transport Department of Transport Paul Northey

“From Bannockburn and Buloke across to Gippsland and Shepparton, young regional Victorians can now apply to take part in the unsafe2safe trial and head out on the roads more safely.”

“We have a world-class Graduated Licensing System that ensures drivers progressively build the skills needed to drive safely, combining this with modern vehicle safety features means we can lower the risk of young people being hurt or killed on our roads.”