A PARLIAMENTARY petition calling on the state government to reduce the minimum probationary driver licence age was launched on Monday, 17 February.

Nationals member for northern Victoria Gaelle Broad said she had been contacted by many young people, parents, and grandparents who were keen to see the probationary driving age reduced from 18 to 17 years.

“I raised the issue in Parliament last year but was told the minister (Melissa Horne) had safety concerns with the idea," Ms Broad said.

“As a parent of two P-platers and one L-plater, I agree that safety is crucial and training is vitally important to ensure our young people are ready for the responsibility of driving solo."

Ms Broad told Parliament on Monday that any road accident statistic was a bad one, regardless of age.

“But in Victoria right now you need to do more training to serve coffee than you do to drive on our roads," she said.

"We require learner drivers to record 120 hours of driving in a logbook, but unless they have someone teaching them properly, at the end of it they may still not know how to park a car.”

Ms Broad urged the minister to consider the driver training programs used in NSW, where a one-day safer driving course earns a driver 20 hours of credit on their logbooks.

Ten hours of professional driving lessons earns a further 20 hours of credit.

“I have been contacted by people across the state keen to see the law changed in Victoria, particularly in regional areas where there is limited or no public transport available, and not everyone has a parent or carer available to ferry them around.”

Ms Broad said some teenagers were avoiding the rules by using a NSW address to get their licence.

“For young people who have done the hours of training and are ready to drive safely on their own, a driver licence opens doors to educational and employment opportunities, access to health services, to engage in community events and sports, and to help others.”

A parliamentary committee inquiry in 2017 recommended Victoria lower the age to 17.

Ms Broad is sponsoring the petition in the Legislative Council.

The petition closes on April 30 and can be found at https://www.parliament.vic.gov.au/get-involved/petitions/reduce-probationary-driving-age/