Victoria Police Assistant Commissioner Glen Weir addressed the issue during the Brake the Habit campaign, warning of a rising trend in young drivers bypassing Victoria’s strict licensing rules.
The practice is sparking concern among police and road safety experts.
In Victoria, learners must be 18 and have logged 120 hours before sitting their P-plate test, the most stringent requirement in Australia.
But some teens are falsely claiming residency in other states, often citing holiday homes or relatives to obtain their P-plates at 17.
“It’s a sense of entitlement,” Victoria Police Assistant Commissioner Glen Weir said.
“Just because you have a holiday house in Noosa doesn’t mean you can skip the rules.”
The penalties are serious: on-the-spot fines up to $1000, and court-imposed penalties of up to $11,855 or even six months in jail.
TAC head of road safety Samantha Cockfield supports the current system.
“The more mature you are, the better you are at handling road experiences,” she said.
Despite ongoing pressure to lower the driving age, including a petition from the Victorian Nationals to drop it to 17, Premier Jacinta Allan has stated, “We have no plans to make any changes.”
Driving instructor Lynda Hurrey, who has taught young people in Shepparton for over 10 years, agrees.
“I’d really like it to stay at 18,” she said.
“Trying to get 120 hours before turning 17 is almost impossible if you want to be a well-informed driver.”
She said she had seen learners cheat the system.
“They find loopholes, but they still don’t have the experience they need,” she said.
“They need to drive in all conditions, not just from school to home.”
Ms Hurrey also questioned the effectiveness of the logbook app.
“You just press a button. It doesn’t track distance or who’s in the car,” she said.
As for specific rural needs, Ms Hurrey acknowledged there were additional pressures.
“Out on the farm, they probably need it to get into town, but they still need to be 18,” she said.
And Ms Hurrey had a message for parents considering helping their child cheat the system.
“Don’t. Just don’t. They’re not ready,” she said.
Authorities urge the public to report suspected cases to Crime Stoppers, warning that providing false information for a licence is a criminal offence.
If you are residing in Victoria for more than six months, you must change your licence or learner permit over to a Victorian licence or learner permit.
You can find out more at tinyurl.com/2z7y4jr6
The Victorian Government is offering a free driving lesson to learners with 10 to 30 logged hours through the myLearners Free Lesson program at myLearners.vic.gov.au
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