Birrang Enterprises, based in Orange NSW, have launched a five-week intensive program focused on assisting disadvantaged and Indigenous people acquire their learner and provisional one drivers licence.

Within the programs timeframe Moree participants will learn more than 600 road rules, techniques and safer driver tips with theory and practical experience.

Birrang contracts coordinator Craig Toole said the course was designed to remove barriers associated with acquiring a driver’s licence.

“It’s not just about the learning side of things. We assist it birth certificates, state fines and obviously literacy.

“Our number one aim is to get people their Ls and progress them to their P1s,” he said.

The age of local participants ranged from 16 to 65, the state average participant’s age is 32.

He said the most common reason for completing the course was to achieve a true sense of independence.

“These people are used to walking everywhere because it’s such a small community but as they age, the need to travel grows greater for education, work, medical reasons and family.”

Driving instructor and trainer George Bullivant said driver were taught driver safety above everything.

“We careful go through the RTA’s Road Users Handbook which has more than 600 road rules. We take the language out of the book and relay it in everyday wording.

“Group discussions, real-life examples and lots of participation from every one ensures that people really understand what they are being taught,” he said.

Mr Bullivant said it was extremely important participants knew the dangers and outcomes of loosing concentration for more than three seconds behind the wheel.

“It is very real, open and honest but hopefully by doing this they will not feel compelled to use a mobile phone or any other distractions whilst driving.

“We use a number of videos and scenarios from other states to give the participants a whole perspective.

“Then these participants will learn with experience once acquiring their licence; everyone continues to learn.”