Forty-eight aspiring drivers, aged from 16-52, are partaking in the driver education program, which aims to assist Indigenous and disadvantaged people to gain knowledge and skills of the roads to become safer drivers. 

Morning sessions to teach aspiring drivers road safety and afternoon sessions to provide practical driving lessons for current L-plate licence holders will be held three days a week for five weeks.

Trainer Nick Frail said the program will benefit drivers in a variety of ways. 

“The program gives people confidence to go out in the community and get involved in the community. It’s the first step to learning and increasing employability,” he said.

Mr Frail said the drivers experience different road safety situations to increase their skills and confidence when on the roads. 

“They negotiate beer goggles so they learn the effects drink driving can have and we set up road signs,” he said.

Course participant Michael Powell believes the course will benefit him in the future.

“Driving means I can work, travel, and get from A to B and they’re really great at teaching you to pay attention and take care. I recommend this to everyone, especially young kids,” he said.

The driver training program aims to improve overall safety standards of drivers.

Since July 2014, the Birrang program has helped 220 people achieve their learners licence and 167 people achieve their provisional licence across rural and remote communities in NSW.