But learning the skills to be safe on the road is not the only challenge for L-platers, since the NSW Government increased a learner driver’s hours from 50 to 120 hours in July last year, many people have struggled to reach the minimum time.

But a group of youth workers and students have teamed up to find a solution.

Community Activities Lake Macquarie Incorporated and Hunter TAFE are conducting a study, Learner Driver Mentor Program Action Research Project, on how the 120 hours of compulsory driving practice has impacted on Lake Macquarie families.

TAFE student Jenny Slater, who is doing a Certificate 4 in Youth Work, said the research would shed some more light on the troubles people encounter when trying to get their provisional licence.

“We want to get people to start talking about why they can’t get their licence and what problems they have,” she said.

Already six weeks into the study, Community Activities Lake Macquarie youth development officer Sonia Dalitz said there were some common themes.

“The two big barriers learner drivers have is that they don’t have access to a licensed driver or a registered vehicle,” she said.

The Government introduced 120 hours of driving to make people safer on the roads but it hasn’t put in place anything to help people achieve this.

Ms Dalitz said the increased hours were hard for many people to reach.

She hoped from the study a learner driver mentor program could be started in Lake Macquarie, with volunteers teaching people how to drive in a donated vehicle.

“We’re in the very early stages now, we are only conducting a study but hopefully we are able to get some funding for the program,” she said.

Ms Dalitz said more people are needed for the study.

To tell the students your story, email gettingyourps@gmail.com or text or phone 0425 304 061.