Boom of new learners getting behind the wheel

Driving schools are experiencing a post-lockdown boom, with new students enrolling at higher numbers across the country.

Learner Adrian Masiello and instructor Henry Naser. Picture: John Feder

Driving schools are experiencing a post-lockdown boom, with new – and often older -students enrolling at higher numbers as many look to break reliance on public transport and increase their independence.

Instructors report an increase of about 20 per cent in enrolments, as new drivers rush to get licences after lessons and tests were put on hold across the country throughout much of last year.

NSW’s peak motorists body, the NRMA, said it had recorded an 18 per cent increase from August to February in the number of learners enrolling in lessons.

“COVID has made people realise having a licence is important in the future and we have seen a shift in behaviour,” NRMA spokesman Peter Khoury said. “Our driving schools have seen an 18 per cent increase in driving lessons, bucking the broader trend over the past five years.”

Mr Khoury said the data also suggested a shift in the age demographics of learner-drivers, with many young people delaying qualifying to drive and more mature-age learners signing up for lessons. “In general, the learner market grows by 3 per cent year on year; however, there have been some minor changes with a negative trend for 18-19-year-olds who have been using more public transport and ride-shares.

“I think a number of factors with the pandemic have made people realise you need a licence, there was a lot of uncertainty about how long this was going to go for.”

He said many older Australians, who had delayed learning to drive, had picked up the keys again due to concerns about taking public transport.

South Australian automobile body RAA community engagement senior manager Ben Haythorpe said waiting times to access driving lessons had stretched from four weeks pre-pandemic to 12 weeks.

Victoria’s Department of Transport said it was running more licence tests than ever, after exams and lessons were put on hold during two extended lockdowns last year.

Nine new temporary testing centres have been opened to address the backlog, with 19,500 tests per week, up from 10,500 before the pandemic.

Sydney dad Adrian Masiello, 35, has begun learning to drive this year because he wanted to pull his weight driving one-year-old daughter Luna Bella, after COVID-19 concerns caused him to question his reliance on public transport and ride-shares.

“I’ve lived most of my life around the inner city where it’s very easy to rely on public transport,” he said.

“I have gotten so used to getting Ubers when I reduced public transport, but if something happened again with the pandemic, being able to drive would be a huge plus.”

His instructor, Henry Naser, who runs Safe2go Driving Lessons and specialises in teaching mature-age students, said his business had increased significantly. “I would say my business jumped 20 per cent. I’m booked out now until April.”