THE TRANSPORT MINISTER has confirmed plans to introduce a graduated driver licensing system (GDLS), which would include a requirement for newly-qualified drivers to display ‘R plates’.

Leo Varadkar said that details of the GDLS scheme would be addressed during the drafting of the next Road Traffic Bill later in the year.

The R plate will be one of nine measures that will make up the new system recommended by the Road Safety Authority.

As with the current ‘L plate’ system – which identifies provisional drivers to other road users - the R plate system would signal which motorists had recently obtained a full licence.

The Road Safety Authority has proposed that R plates be displayed for the first two years of a driver holding a full licence.

What do you think – do you agree with proposals to introduce R plates in order to identify novice drivers?

Poll Results:

Yes (1601)

No (1552)

I don't know (112)

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