Students from six schools across Queensland, including Spinifex State College in Mount Isa will be the first to trial a new ground-breaking online learner driver test which could replace the ‘old’ multiple choice written paper.
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Acting Main Roads and Road Safety Minister Steven Miles said the state government was investigating new ways to better support young people in becoming safe and responsible drivers.
“Drivers under 24 are Queensland’s most at-risk road user group and are 60 per cent more likely to be involved in a serious crash than more mature drivers,” Mr Miles said.
The students will use a test called PrepL which is a high-tech, safety focussed online test that will push learner drivers through an intensive and interactive course, including driving simulation tasks and powerful real-life interviews.
It’s used across multiple devices (smart phones, tablets and computers), allowing future drivers to complete their learning and assessment anywhere and anytime, at their own pace.
If successful, the current 30 question paper test would be overhauled for the first time in four decades and rolled out across the state as early as next year.
Mr Miles said Queensland led on improving outcomes for new drivers and PrepL had been developed to ensure our next generation of drivers are as prepared as they can be before hitting the road.
“Young drivers are susceptible to risk-taking, succumbing to peer pressure and other driver distractions such as mobile phone use,” he said.
“Students won’t just learn the road rules with PrepL, they’ll learn why the rules exist, and in a virtual environment, they will experience the consequences of poor driving behaviour. PrepL will ensure learners know the road rules and understand the impact of the Fatal Five: speeding, drink and drug driving, failure to wear a seatbelt, driving while fatigued and distraction.”
Transport and Main Roads has partnered with Croomo, a multi-award winning Queensland-based company to develop the innovative new platform, which is a boost to Queensland’s digital economy, and supports Advancing Queensland.
Schools in the trial are Spinifex State College, The Gap SHS (Brisbane), Harristown SHS (Toowoomba), Gordonvale SHS (Gordonvale), Mountain Creek SHS (Sunshine Coast), Woodridge SHS (Logan).
Derek Barry
Editor of the North West Star Mount Isa since January 2016. Prior to that, an editor at several regional southern Queensland newspapers. Passionate about telling local stories. Comes with a strange accent to due an Irish accident of birth.
Editor of the North West Star Mount Isa since January 2016. Prior to that, an editor at several regional southern Queensland newspapers. Passionate about telling local stories. Comes with a strange accent to due an Irish accident of birth.
