Victorians could soon be getting their L-plates online as the new Roads Minister Ben Carroll confirms he is pushing for the changes.
Currently, hopeful learner drivers must attend a VicRoads office in person to complete the learner permit knowledge test that qualifies them to take to the roads with L-plates.
Mr Carroll said this theory test could easily be completed online from home.
"I'm 45 and I did my learners permit 30 years ago," he said.
"One thing I've realised in the first couple of months that I've been the Road Safety Minister is not much has changed in the past 30 years.
"I do think that the time has come for the learner permit to be done online."
Mr Carroll said the pandemic has shown how face-to-face services could move to the internet.
"I myself have done different tests online from my own bedroom and I know now, in terms of software checks and balances, it can be done," he said.
Victorians push for change
Shepparton dad David Doherty's petition for online L-plate tests has attracted nearly 30,000 signatures.
He welcomed the announcement, saying it would be a big help for regional Victorians.
"That is a real step forward for country people and country kids not being disadvantaged by not having public transport and not being able to get to their jobs and uni," Mr Doherty said.
He created the petition after his daughter Gabby could not book to sit her learner driver test in May, when she turned 16.
But Mr Doherty said it was still going to be a while until his daughter could take her test.
"It [VicRoads] is still catching up on the backlog from the previous lockdown," he said.
"The amount of backlog is still delaying the process for a lot of young people to get their learner's [permit]."
Online testing 'safe and secure'
Previously, the Department of Transport had expressed concern over the integrity of online testing but Mr Carroll said it was possible to do it safely.
"Where it's been done in other jurisdictions we will look very closely at that to make sure whatever we look at in Victoria is safe and secure," he said.
"It's been done where you can do it online from your own private home, but it's been done in a very secure fashion where answers are timed, you only get a certain amount of time to do it, you log-in very securely."
"We are very proud of our road safety in Victoria … and I do not want to see any of that slip."
Mr Carroll said it was more important to make sure drivers were completing their 120 hours of driving and not falsifying it.
"At the end of the day it's about those valuable hours out on the road … to really get that real-world experience behind the wheel," he said.
