Over 300 women from Upolu and Savai'i have registered in a program that will see them receive a free driver's license after undergoing training.

An opportunity offered by the Land, Transport Authority (L.T.A.) in partnership with the World Bank for Samoan women to get free driver's licenses was not taken for granted. 

At a meeting held at the L.T.A. compound in Vaitele on Monday morning, women who registered for the program were advised that over 300 had registered for the pilot driver's license program. 

A first of its kind in Samoa, the program initially offered 100 spots for girls aged 17 years and older women to get free licenses. Of that number, 75 were to be picked from Upolu and 25 from Savai'i. 

The initiative comes as a result of a recent survey conducted by the World Bank in Samoa, which found that the number of women with driver's licenses in Samoa was quite low, according to information on the L.T.A. website. This led to the initiative to offer free driver's licenses for women in Samoa in a partnership between L.T.A. and the World Bank.

The aim is to increase the number of women holding driver's licenses in Samoa. Registration started last week and closed last Friday. 

A meeting was held on Monday at Vaitele for all females who signed up for the free driver's licenses program to brief them about the different phases of the program. There is a different process undertaken for this program to get a driver's license, unlike the normal process of getting a driver's license in Samoa. 

A similar meeting will be held in Savai'i on Wednesday this week with the courses to commence on 25 May 2023. The total number of women who registered for the program will be divided into groups. After introductory courses in May, they will be issued learner's licenses to be used for two months with supervisors to accompany them on the road. The supervisor must hold a 5-year-old valid driver's license. 

If they pass that phase, they will finally get their personal driver's licenses in August this year. Normally when getting a new driver's license in Samoa, it will cost you SAT$173 and SAT$79 for a learner's permit.