THE Victorian Government has no plans to introduce a special licence for under-age country drivers.
While many country people see merit in the suggestion to allow 17 or even 16-year-olds access to a restricted licence, it is unlikely to happen.
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The Country Women's Association raised the idea, floated several times in the past, in a submission to a parliamentary inquiry on agricultural education and training.
The CWA said poor public transport in rural areas made it difficult for young people to get around to schools and work.
Ararat grazier Coral Moran, convenor of the association agriculture and environment committee, said many farm jobs involved driving distances from property to property.
She said other states, such as South Australia, already had a restricted licence for farm use.
Mrs Moran said Victoria was the only state in Australia which made young drivers wait until 18 before they were eligible to sit a probationary driver's test.
Every other state or territory allows 17-year-olds to drive.
"We are out of step with the rest of the nation," Mrs Moran said. "We need to keep more young on our farms."
A Mallee teen, who just turned 18 but did not want to be named, said a restricted licence would have been handy on the farm for jobs like getting parts from town during the harvest.
"Especially when Mum wasn't about, or it would have saved Dad the trip," he said.
Victorian Farmers Federation vice-president Peter Tuohey said a restricted licence "would be handy" particularly if both parents worked.
"Getting to the school bus is a problem," Mr Tuohey said.
"I think the community would have concerns about putting more young people on the roads who lack experience."
A government spokeswoman said the eligibility for a probationary licence in Victoria remained 18 years of age.
"Drivers licensed at a younger age have a higher crash risk. Research shows that there is a 10 per cent lower crash risk for first-year drivers at 18 years of age compared to those licensed at 17 years of age," the spokeswoman said.
