What happened to the Keys 2 Drive program and the ‘free’ driving lesson?

What happened to the Keys 2 Drive program and the ‘free’ driving lesson?

Keys 2 Drive - no longer running

What happened to the Keys 2 Drive program and the ‘free’ driving lesson?

The national Keys 2 Drive program began in 2008 and was an Australian Government funded program which provided learner drivers and their parents/supervisors a free driving lesson with accredited professional driving instructors.

The goal of the Keys 2 Drive program was to reduce the risk of young drivers having a serious crash within the first six months on their P-plates. The program was structured so that young learner drivers find their own way in how to learn to drive safely. The purpose of the program was to significantly reduce the crash risk of new drivers as a driver going from L to P-plates were statistically six times more likely to have a serious crash.

The Australian Government has an established goal of halving national road deaths by 50 per cent by 2030. However independent appraisals showed that the Keys 2 Drive program was not delivering the measurable road safety improvements that the government had hoped for. Consequently, access to the program ended for participants on 31 March 2023.

There are still many organisations assisting people from low-income households, people seeking employment and other disadvantaged people. But while these programs are primarily designed simply to help people obtain their licence, the Keys 2 Drive had an emphasis on reducing road-related deaths and injuries by young drivers.

While it may not be free, it pays to search for professional driver trainers who offer discounts for packages of driving lessons. The saving could be equivalent to the fee of one driving lesson or greater. However, it might pay to have one driving lesson first to make sure you are compatible with the instructor and the training vehicle.