General News
22 February, 2024
Tests disrupted due to staffing
Local learner drivers looking to get their P plates in the coming months might have to travel to another facility — with VicRoads Maryborough pumping the brakes on testing due to staff shortages. From March onwards, there will be no local...
Local learner drivers looking to get their P plates in the coming months might have to travel to another facility — with VicRoads Maryborough pumping the brakes on testing due to staff shortages.
From March onwards, there will be no local appointments available for around eight weeks, following which services are expected to resume.
If you’re looking to get your probationary license during that period, you will have to pick a centre outside of Maryborough.
The closest sites, all of which are about an hour away, are located in Bendigo, Ballarat, Ararat and Kyneton.
While travelling at least 60 kilometres to take the test is an added hassle, it could also be heavier on the pockets.
“Parents are going to have to take time off work to drive the learner all that way then they’ll have to wait for a few hours — it’s going to be inconvenient,” R U Safe Driving School owner David Hendrickson said.
“To help with that, we’re offering to drive them out of town, which is something we don’t normally do, but hopefully it’s only for the next two months.
“Because of the travelling and the time it takes, we would be losing a morning’s worth of work so we’ve had to charge accordingly, with that whole package costing $350.”
Running the business with his daughter Sophie Tribe, the duo work with roughly 55 students a week and out of these, some have already opted to take the test elsewhere.
“At the end of the day, you should be able to drive in any town but on the day there will be some nerves so it’s good to go for an option that might have less traffic,” Mr Hendrickson said.
“The popular choice, with me, would be Ararat or Kyneton — but if you’re going somewhere that you’re not used to that’s going to create more anxiety because we don’t know those streets.
“Between now and the test, parents should be taking learners on drives in different places — they’ll start seeing things that they’re not used to driving around.”
Mr Hendrickson is also urging people to be patient with the staff at the local VicRoads centre.
“They’re working on resolving [any issues], there’s steps in place,” he said.
“I would like to emphasise that it’s not just the office here, the staffing problem is being faced statewide.
“Don’t get upset with the employees here — they’re doing their best and people might be put out a bit but it’ll all sort out soon.”