Addressing the driver training needs of remote Aboriginal communities

In an attempt to reduce the high levels of road trauma among novice drivers, Western Australia has implemented its Graduated Driver Training and Licensing System (GDT&L). Given that the majority of the residents in isolated locations are Aboriginal, not only are many of the elements of the GDT&L demographically irrelevant due to their remoteness, parts of it are culturally inappropriate. To that end, the Department for Planning and Infrastructure (DPI), in partnership with the Office of Road Safety, is developing a version of the GDT&L that is suitable for use by Aboriginal people, particularly those living in remote locations. This paper discusses some of the reasons that Aboriginal people in remote communities drive unlicensed and the potential implications of that practice, as well as outlines the steps that are being taken to ensure those people have the opportunity to obtain a driver’s licence. (a) For the covering entry of this conference, please see ITRD abstract no. E211985.