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A FIANNA FÁIL TD has said he believes learner drivers should be allowed to drive without being accompanied in the car by a licenced driver.
Since 2007, it has been an offence for an unlicensed person to drive a vehicle unaccompanied.
Under the law, gardaí can seize a vehicle if a learner driver is discovered to be driving without a qualified driver present.
If caught driving unaccompanied, a learner driver faces an initial €160 fine and two penalty points.
If you allow a learner driver to drive your car unaccompanied, you could be fined up to €1,000.
There was much debate about learner drivers in 2018 when the ‘Clancy Amendment’ was introduced by government in recognition of Noel Clancy, who campaigned to have the law changed after his wife Geraldine and daughter Louise were killed in 2015 when their car was struck by a learner driver who was driving unaccompanied.
It is also an offence for the owner of a vehicle to knowingly allow an unaccompanied learner or an unlicensed person to drive his or her vehicle.
The Transport Minister at the time, Shane Ross said: “Once and for all we need to stamp out the entirely false notion that once someone has a learner permit they are free to drive as they wish. A learner permit is not a driving licence.”
Speaking in the Dáil this afternoon during a debate on the long wait times for learners to get a driving test, Fianna Fáil’s Cathal Crowe said:
“I believe learner drivers should be allowed to drive without someone accompanying them in the car. I live in a rural county and west of Ennis there is no Luas line, no DART and no public transport of any significance.”
He went on to state students can’t afford on-campus student accommodation meaning parents have to buy a car for their son or daughter so they can drive to and from college every day.
Crowe said young people sometimes bring other students who live in the catchment area to the college campus with them.
“We are criminalising all of these young people with the requirement that they must have an accompanying driver in the car with them. It is unacceptable. There is no public transport network and this criterion is unacceptable.
“It is criminalising a lot of young people who just cannot have that college experience on campus. They are living at home and using their car to get in and out,” he said.
The Fianna Fáil TD said there must be a “smarter” or more “sensible way” to deal with the matter, stating that instead insurance companies should have to require learner drivers to not exceed a certain speed.
“Surely that is the way to have controls on how they drive rather than this punitive rule requiring them to always have an accompanying driver in the car with them, which is not realistic,” he said.
“If we were to really apply the spirit of that law in a rural area, the mom or dad would have to take time off work to drive their child to college and sit in the car while they attend eight hours of lectures before driving home. It just does not work in practice. The reality is that we are criminalising many young people every day with this,” he said.
At odds with Crowe, Fine Gael TD Emer Currie said there is no excuse for unaccompanied learner drivers being on the road.
A number of TDs spoke today about the lengthy wait time for driving test appointments, which they said are preventing people from taking up employment in some cases.
Speaking during a Dáil debate on the issue, Minister of State Sean Canney said the average waiting time for driving tests is now 27 weeks, a figure he said has risen significantly in part due to a “backlog of tests”.
He said the Road Safety Authority (RSA) has now told him that it plans to reduce waiting times to 10 weeks by September, and that in order to reach this target he will seek a regular update every two weeks over the coming months.
The RSA has committed to reduce the wait time to 22 weeks by end May and to 18 weeks at end June.
He also said the RSA has been sanctioned to recruit up to 200 more driving test examiners, a figure he said is double that of two years ago.
Canney said the provision of a timely and efficient driver testing service is a key priority for him.
“The experience of learner drivers seeking a driver test over the last number of years has been unacceptable and the service being offered needs to be greatly improved as soon as possible,” he said.
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How about teaching learners to drive on a motorway with proper lane use. It’s crazy that you can pass your test and drive home on a motorway for the first time on your own.
@Vincent B: you can also fall your test and still drive home.
@Jp Cleary: add parking to the test. Unaccompanied learner drivers is a bad bad idea
@Alan: as a professional driver I very rarely come across learner drivers that creat problems. Usually the L or N on the back gives me ample warning I need to be careful. On the other hand the amount of novice full licensed lunatics i meet daily is truly astonishing. And these clowns think just because they passed their driving test they can drive.
@Vincent B: you can’t. Learners aren’t allowed drive on a motorway even with a full licensed driver in the car afaik.
@Jp Cleary: only if accompanied by a full licensed driver!
@Mic JHintl: An L or a N means nothing on a car. A fully licensed driver can drive their own car,but those plates are attached so when their child drives that car on their own they are covered. These signs are not attached and removed depending on who is driving. I take notice of all drivers,signs or not. Always expect the unexpected
@Vincent B: Plenty of qualified drivers that are clueless as to how to use a motorway properly, see it every day.
@Setanta O’Toole: Actually they are allowed drive on a motorway if accompanied by the holder of a full driving licence that has no restrictions. (1) if diverted due to an emergency, or (2) if directed by a member of An Garda Síochána. The speed limits of the motorway will be restricted as appropriate and they should exit the motorway at the firstavailable exit….. But I’m sure you knew this, like you know everything else (not).
@Paul Linehan: So, only in completely different circumstances to the one the original post mentioned? Not much of a gotcha. I’m not a driving instructor Paul, but glad to know I rattled you earlier.
@Paul Linehan: So, only in completely different circumstances to the one the original post mentioned then? Not much of a gotcha. I’m not a driving instructor Paul, but glad to know you are still rattled from earlier.
@Setanta O’Toole: Not rattled, just calling out your BS posts. Parenting and driving are obviously not your strong points.
@Paul Linehan: rattled.
@Vincent B: Actually you can’t. Technically you can’t drive on a motorway until you have your license in hand.
@Vincent B: motorways are the safest place for any driver. It’s the country roads they should have assistance on.
@Larry Betts: Even with an L plate a learner can not drive on their own. An N plate indicates the driver has passed test in previous 12 months.
@Leonard Barry: many a driver swerving through lanes with no indicators
@Jp Cleary: as i have after getting a test cancelled for a faulty brake light. Solid.
As a 43 year old man who just learned how to drive, i think it would make more common sense for my driving instructor to complete my driving test after my 12 lessons. My instructor has seen my progress, assessed my skill at the recommended manoeuvres, assessed my night time driving, and has spent 12 hours with me in a car. Im waiting in my test now 7 months, its absolutely shocking
@Anthony Corbett: you should be driving well before that age. Why such a delay?
@Basildon Joe: I would say that’s none of your business
@Sean Reddin: if he’s on the public road it is indeed everyone’s business
@Anthony Corbett: you need to do 100 hrs driving, so you can be an auto pilot in the car and reflexs become habit and anticipate what other road users are going to do. And remember, an indicator light is just a flashing amber light, it means nothing in court.
@Basildon Joe: No he shouldn’t have to explain. Stop trying to look for sympathy votes
@Basildon Joe: where did he say he was on the road before he learned to drive?
@Oh Mammy: it didn’t. B Jo just trying to stir up trouble
@Basildon Joe: If there was a license requirement for posting comments you wouldn’t have gotten past the theory test
@Basildon Joe: Of course it’s not everyone’s business when a person decides when to learn to drive.
@Basildon Joe: Irrelevant
@Anthony Corbett: I am driving longer than you are alive and I was told by an instructor way back then. A driving test is 30 minutes you have to behave while driving . When you have an instructor in the car you are a good boy. What are you like when he is gone . I drive for a living btw. So I think I know how to drive by now . But every day is a school day.
@Basildon Joe: you sound just like a guy I work with. Nobody likes him.
Now mind your own business
@Anthony Corbett: now that’s a good idea.
@Basildon Joe: no it isn’t, any more than it ours to know yours. Unless you a member of AGS, then you’re ‘entitled’ to GTFO, frankly.
@Anthony Corbett: How would you feel if you driving instructor failed you?
Perhaps this minister, before uttering populaist sound bites, should meet up & have a coffee with North Cork farmer Noel Clancy that lost his beautiful wife & and daughter to an unaccompanied driver in 2015.
@Mary Linton: accidents will always happen, thats life. How about we ban everyone from driving cars and then nobody will die in car accidents — we’ll just walk everywhere, can’t have anyone getting in bike accidents either. If there’s any accidents while we walk we’ll just stop getting out of bed altogether – then there’ll be no accidents.
@Mary Linton: what’s your suggestion then for rural people learning to drive when they have no accompanying driver in the house.
It’s a legitimate problem.
@Mary Linton: should he also meet up with people who have lost loved ones to full licenced drivers? Or does it not matter cause they had a full licence, somehow they’re expendable are they?
@Shane Kinsella (Kinsey): if you can’t drive you shouldn’t be driving, learner licence is there so you can learn, you’re not learning on your own
@Mary Linton: shut up mary
@Mary Linton: The tragic loss of his wife and daughter was no doubt a horrendous personal loss for Noel Clancy, but should we continously ammend all laws and their enforcement based on singular incidents, without considering the wider context and negative impacts on a much larger section of society?
The reality is that the knee jerk changing of the law around unaccompanied learner drivers in 2015, hasn’t reduced road deaths in the slightest, meaning that the Clancy ammendment didn’t deliver any of the the alleged benefits and has only delivered inconvenience for provisional drivers and their families living in rural areas.
@Mary Linton: surprise surprise, but it’s you who is taking the populist position, not the TD
@Shane Kinsella (Kinsey): Just do what the rest of us did, Drive with the instructor until you pass your test, How did they manage to deal with it before they were even old enough to drive? But i do admit that the test wait times are a joke
@qffaffaf affrafrfraf: don’t be a dumbass, we can always do better.
@qffaffaf affrafrfraf: tell that to the families of the 174 people killed on Irish roads last year. Careless driving, speeding, drink driving, phone use, aren’t accidents. Drivers need to start being held responsible for these deaths. Every unaccompanied learner that kills someone, Cathal should take the blame.
@qffaffaf affrafrfraf: No, accidents do not happen, they are caused. There is always a cause. Not sure if you will understand that though.
@qffaffaf affrafrfraf: trains buses bicycles.
@Mary Linton: what about all those killed by drunk drivers then – when is Prohibition on alcohol coming in ?
Fffg, perpetual learners, driving government. We know what can go wrong. Get your act together and get people licensed? Are you that clueless?
So how do you learn to drive when you live down the backarse of nowhere and no one else in the house drives ?
@Shane Kinsella (Kinsey): Driving lessons.
Pilots licenses have similar requirements.
Should we let people who have planes fly unaccompanied if on a learners plate cos there’s no pilot in the house?
@Shane Kinsella (Kinsey): By registeting wiith a driving school and being taught how to drive by a qualified instructor. Just like in almost all developed countries. The driving instructor can even collect you at your house.
@Shane Kinsella (Kinsey): You plan!
@Shane Kinsella (Kinsey): They are called driving instructors, they will even provide a car and insurance for you to learn, that’s what everyone in my family did.
@Shane Kinsella (Kinsey): the same way I did. I was in that situation just last year. I had no car. Nobody in the house drives or has a car. I practiced when I was with an instructor twice a week until I did the test.
@Shane Kinsella (Kinsey): according to the law its screw you stay home until you finally get someone to accompany you. Hopefully you haven’t regressed to base level by then requiring you to spend more on instructors
I find myself in the unfortunate position of agreeing with a FF politician…
The previous system of allowing learner drivers to drive unaccompanied functioned perfectly fine, the majority of learner drivers drove safely and they learnt more by driving in their own in the real world, than by having occasional one hour lessons and or by being dependent on family members to act as their qualified accompanying driver.
One tragic incident in which a mother and daughter died in 2015 prompted the change in the law, known as the Clancy ammendment, it hasn’t had any noticeable impact on reducing road deaths.
But has negatively impacted numerous young provisional drivers in their daily lives, especially in rural areas with zero public transport, where they can’t have a family member accompanying them travelling to and from work, going out to socialise, etc, forcing them into breaking the law, risking both prosecution and having their car seized.
@Dvsespaña: The previous system of provisional licensing, where you were allowed to drive unaccompanied after the first year, but were then required to be accompanied again at the end of the second year, was good when used correctly, and I benefitted from it in the early 90′s, being able to gain experience after initial lessons, before taking the test, but it had to go because it was being widely abused by people who would forever claim that they were in their second year, and would either repeatedly fail the test, or never even apply. Apart from the 2015 tragedy itself, figures were showing that unaccompanied learners were disproportionately involved in collisions.
It’s 200 in total not an extra 200. The RSA and dept under Eamon Ryan made a mess of this over years. Speak to any ADI find out the facts on the ground.
@John Roberts: You called out the person responsible for a lot of the problems we now face! Eamon Ryan! the minister for cyclists!
I agree. As a 38 year old learner driver who has no family at all ( grew up in care) I have noone to sit with me in my car and my wife has one sister who is a full license driver yet she doesn’t have time to come everywhere with me. I get the rule for 16 to 25 year olds but older ones like myself shouldn’t have to abide by this rule
@Kevin Daly: You can hire these people called driving instructors, and as a bonus, they will even have a car for you to use and on top of that, they even have insurance for you,
@Trevor Donoghue: I already pay one and also I have my car and insurance and tax. It’s a ridiculous rule tbh
@Kevin Daly: It may be ridiculous in your situation. But the current system save lives. Should the whole system change for a small percentage, when lives are on the line?
@Seriously Really: well in all fairness. The amount of times I’ve had to beep or out in the brakes wasn’t because of myself or another learner it was due to a full license holder driving well over the limit past me or braking suddenly because they were not laying attention or too impatient. Ive has drivers pass me on 60 mph roads even though I was driving at least 53 mph. It’s the full drivers that you mostly need to watch out for tbh.
@Seriously Really: does it save lives? Far as I know the vast majority of fatalities include licenced drivers rather than learners.
I can sort of empathise, especially in rural areas. Learner drivers should be more proficient when they get the permit though.
He’s right, ridiculous rule that makes it impossible to learn unless you have a family member in the car with you constantly. Not everyone has that luxury
@qffaffaf affrafrfraf: tough so isn’t it, the law doesn’t apply to a portion of the population.
@qffaffaf affrafrfraf: Doesn’t have to be a family member. But it is totally reasonable that someone who doesn’t know how to drive shouldn’t be driving unaccompanied. Yes. It affects country dwellers disproportionately. That’s law for you.
It’s not beyond people in country areas to set up a group of qualified drivers to help these young people.
If you can’t drive, your parents can’t drive you, there’s no public transport and you can’t afford a flat near a Uni., are you wise wanting to go there?
Better wait, earn some money, and go when you can.
Speaking of driving… I believe all e-scooter drivers should be required to register their scooter, have insurance, sign a contract of understanding that they understand the rules of the road.
@Seriously Really: I was on the Stillorgan dual carriageway yesterday,if that’s what it’s called. An e-scooter bombing along,lights turned red,sailed through them. I stopped,and blew the horn at him,he didn’t inconvenience me,but I was warning him of the stupidity of his actions. The traffic that had a legal right of way had to pause until he passed. He turned around and gave me abuse. It’s this attitude that’s sickening.
@Larry Betts: There is nothing to reign e-scooter user in… I guess the death rate must increase before action is taken.
@Seriously Really: The legislation on e-scooters and e-bikes was badly written and that was the minister at the time is responsible for that as it was his team that made the regulations so weak!
@Seriously Really: The last minister refused to do that. Same over helmets and hi viz etc.
I’m more worried about all the driving test impersonators who are making big money from their ethnic groups for taking their tests.
I wonder when the Government will tighten up on the Class W licence? Young lads flying up and down narrow country roads on huge powerful tractors.
@Mark R: Unlikely, given that Ireland is one of the only countries in the EU where tractors are allowed on motorways (if they can do 60km/h) – in most countries, tractors are not allowed by vehicle type. The farming lobby is powerful.
With the standard of driving nowadays going the way it is,fully licensed drivers shouldn’t be allowed to drive unaccompanied. Hogging the overtaking lane of dual carriageways and motorways,not indicating at roundabouts,it’s a wonder how they got their license in the first place
@Larry Betts:
Ah stop…. The amount of people that sit in the middle lane of the M50. The driving lane is often empty which means a 3 lane motorway is reduced to 2 lanes. Absolute donkeys…
Thick Irish solution for Irish problem. How about having more testers instead of
Well he is a real beauty to suggest such a mad idea we should also let them drive without insurance.
@Michael Edmonds: why is it a mad idea? Pre 2014 you could legally drive unaccompanied on a second provisional license. I’m fairly confident the driving standard back then was much better than it is now.
@Ger Whelan: You could also drive unaccompanied on your 15th provisional license.
To get your second license/free pass, all you had to do was FAIL a test….
Might help you get the picture a bit better.
@Alan: I have the bigger picture. Do you believe the standard of driving has gotten better since learner drivers couldn’t drive on their own? Because I don’t. I think it’s gotten far worse.
Healy Rae talk from anther hanger on
@David Murray: Another
Every other country has laws for Learner Drivers to be accompanied by an experienced driver. So what makes Ireland different? Why would FF suggest such an Assisine thing? The point of having an experienced driver with a Learner is to “Learn”? And yes… If a L driver is caught driving without an experienced driver, they should be fined for breaking the law. Further, easing of such laws will increase the cost of insurance for us all…. And opening the gates for all L drivers to be able to drive without thought or consideration is death waiting to happen. How ridiculous!!!
@Seriously Really: it’s how it used to be. Learner driver kills someone prompting a change in law however the vast majority fatalities are fully licensed drunk/complacent drivers
Ffs young people can’t mop a floor never mind drive a complicated mechanical propulsion machine. The roads are jam packed with lunatics as it is. Pass your test.
Beyond comment. Such a xxxxxxx bad idea.
Who will tell them they’re doing it wrong?
The learner driver permit is an anachronistic leftover from the Brits. In other countries you need to pass your test and then you can drive on your own. Driving schools in Germany for example collect students from rural areas at their homes. The solution to this problem is the reduction of the waiting time for driving tests, better public transport and better broadband so students can attend lectures remotely.
@Dereck: what are you talking about? Learner drivers in the UK have had to be accompanied for over 90 years!
@David Evans: Please note, that I was referring to the learner driver permit as a whole. It’s an outdated system from a time when there was little traffic and the demands on drivers were different. In today’s world nobody should be driving who hasn’t proven to be capable of doing so.
N drivers by far the worst , speeding dangerously, showing off . Too many young people dying on our roads .
Mr. Crowe seems blissfully unaware that the overwhelming majority of learner drivers involved in fatalities were driving unaccompanied.
Pearse Doherty called this out in the Dail today. He blamed The Government. This lad is also blaming the ‘Government’. The only thing missing is actual names of who’s responsible in government. Actually name names. Call them out. We know you both know. Why not just use your Dail privilege to actually out the person or persons involved. I won’t hold my breath.
@H Woo: At least he opens his mouth during speaking time, most of FFG sit out their speaking time in the Dail. Sit there asleep, dreaming of money no doubt, or crackling like the greedy Jackles they are. Only interested in getting rich, then progressively richer, while the world starves.
And don’t even stop there. They continue on the European Parliament or presidential role, some makey up ministerial position, dept, kwango, consulting, supervison role, overseeing something some other person who got elected to FFG for a dare, get as much pensions as possible in the time you’re there. Never blame anyone except the public for the mess it’s made of its self. Lessons learnt. And the needle goes back to the start of the record, and we all sing along like before….and nothing ever happens. Nothing happens at all.
Or the Seanad, lol.
I can’t post what I wanted to post, as it was deemed potential toxic. But you no doubt get the drift.
Yes and no. Yes, because some people like me don’t have a full driver with two years experience, and can’t practice otherwise without forking out more money for an instructor. I also despise it when you have a passenger who is constantly making remarks about your driving. But also no, because some people genuinely shouldn’t be behind a wheel. Most people are fine, but I’ve seen some pretty horrendous videos of learner drivers out there.
@Daniel Skelton: When I started driving,I took lessons from a driving instructor. When he felt I was ready for the test,he told me to go ahead and apply. I did,and I passed. I started work at a company,and they asked me to drive a van. I did,on a Good Friday around Dublin City centre making deliveries. That was the first time I ever drove unaccompanied,with my fully endorsed Drivers Licence. The quiet streets gave me great confidence,and I’ve being driving confidently in the 35 years since. Either you drive carefully and considerately,or with wild abandon and selfishness,the choice is up to all drivers on Irish roads. Hopefully we can see more care and attention in the future,after all the horrific recent road deaths.
He wants learner drivers ferrying other students to college with them! What planet is this guy on???
And this effer a say in the laws that are passed in this country.
And that other nitwit wants to cover every bog in Sitka spruce.
We could half the number of TD’s that we have and not skip a beat when this is the calibre up there.
Who voted for this numpty ?
Here s a mad thought. Do away with the learner license all together and just make ppl do full license where they actually know how to drive
@Piotr Nowak: You’re not wrong. Nobody should be allowed on the road if they don’t know how to drive
Bad idea, novice struggle as is
Depends on the age of the learners.Forget about idiot boy racers in their twenties
@Johnny King: it’s not the 90s
@Damien Leahy: yeah they’re even worse now
@Damien Leahy: Lowered VW Passats are the new school bus, it’s embarrassing.
Saw one with an L for Lern & a N for Nube plate, gang of lads in the back tryn be gangsta.. everyone morto for them.. & their parent feels no shame.. obviously. Smh
@Julio’s Evil Twin: Do you know something,I’m often driving along in the overtaking lane,behind a long line of cars in front. We’re all going slightly faster than the cars in the lhs driving lane. Nobody can do much about it,no room for anyone to pull over or go faster. Everyone doing a steady speed. All of a sudden angry driver speeds up behind me,tailgating,indicating they want to get by! I say,What does he expect me to do! Look in the mirror,it’s a female! Seriously,there’s starting to be a habit of girl racers creeping into society now. Not the cliched “women drivers”,but young ones who think they own the road more than anyone else
@H Woo:
You think that’s clever or something ??? Idîôts like you cause accidents.
@H Woo: …left foot braking.. ;)
Accelerate & tap the brake with your left foot just to throw on the lights.
Works every time..
Politicians focused on playing their corrupt part in a corrupt system all to feather their own nest is the root cause of this issue and many others.
A Minister of Transport could reasonably be expected to request a monthly report on driving test statistics/census reports etc, and come to a conclusion on whether more or less testing capacity is needed and where and request the RSA to make it so. This has obviously not happened and it results in the mess that this article outlines. The victim of this is not the Minister, or any of their cronies, it’s, funnily enough, us, the investor and user of the service. What we are asking for is not rocket science, it’s a simple basic service that is quite clearly required, and to also function as needed.
It probably took years to come up with the legislation to not have L drivers unaccompanied and it makes an even bigger mockery of the system, that they are supposed to champion, when they propose to squander the tax used to create the law in the first place by binning it, to fix an issue that they created themselves! Again, they are unlikely to be victims of binning the law, it will be us that will pay that price too.
@Paddy Short: Tell me again how and why they’re blaming us. That was the interesting part. But in one single sentence, this time. TLDR
Paddy Long :)
Does anyone know whether there is any statistical or other evidence to show that compelling learner drivers to be accompanied by a licensed driver has reduced road accidents / injuries / fatalities compared to the 7 year period immediately prior to the new rules?
This would be like back in the late 70s if you had two provisional licence, you would be able claim a full licence… in other words buy two items get another one free.
Funny he should think that….I know plenty full licenced drivers that should not be left have a car….accompanied or not!
Special pleading for rural Ireland again, he’ll be asking if they can have a few pints on the way home next.
You don’t fix a problem by lowering the bar, you fix the problem. Prioritise testing availability in rural areas being the obvious one.
We really must stop in this country introducing laws named after people.Laws named after sympathetic victims are the worst form of knee jerk lawmaking and only plays into the hands of self serving politicians eager for votes.As usual in this country all reactions are emotive and these laws such as Coco’s or Clancy’s Law typically attempt to close some perceived loophole.In actual fact is is almost always an overcorrection that eventually creates more problems that it solves.
And no doubt, if you murder someone because of your reckless driving, you should get a very light sentence.
And there you have it, folks. The cozy relationship between politicians and the legal world.
They don’t give a flying nut for you or your loved ones.
Is there Data to show that being accompanied by a qualified driver actually works. Depending on who the qualified driver is , and not everyone is cut out for this,they even might be a hindrance to the learner driver . I think once a person learns how to drive a car and follows the rules of the road, do not drive too fast they learn to think better on their own .
@Anne: yes, from all over the world for decades
Who is this Clown
He’s right. If anything, learner drivers are more careful drivers than established full licence holders on average. They’re focused on getting their full licence without incident and pushing the outrageous prices of their insurance down. There will always be drivers the road who cause accidents but they also hold full licences.
Allow learners to drive unaccompanied but with strict conditions. Lower speed limits(limiter fitted), higher fines/penalty points, no night driving, zero alcohol limit etc etc. A lot of learners I know don’t bother displaying L plates for fear of getting pulled over.
Yet another way this country is completely unlivable for young people. Can’t afford to rent, poor transport infrastructure and well over a years worth of hoops to jump through to get a driving license and that’s if they can even afford the insurance which will cost more than their car.
I don’t think learner driving without a license is ideal but what else are young people in a rural area to do? Take a year out to get their license?
The back log has more to do with people coming into the country and their driving licences not being compatible to drive here after a year. Why not waiver this like you did Ukraine and get on with it. This would free up a significant amount of tests for those who are less experienced driving.
‘I live in a rural county…” i wonder which house he’s in? Is the one he declared or the other one he has in his Irish as Gaeilge name?
Absolute madness
Amazing. Half the population can’t drive with a full license and this clown wants to let loose the learners . Taxi drivers are shocking . People can’t use a roundabout or park and he wants more on the road. Just imagine your insurance in 2 years. We will all need the cycle lanes. Where do they find these people.
What a totally ridiculous statement from an elected representative. This is both dumb and dangerous. I tell you what would be sensible – not allowing that man to hold public office!
My car has a box fitted and can tell my insurance company of any infringement I or my son a named driver makes it was fitted free and to put my son on the policy cost only 90 euro because of this device it’s a no brainer
Can a UK license be exchanged? The system here is backwards and archaic… waiting time brought down to 10 weeks by the end of the year is pathetic. So if we’ve no one to accompany us learners I assume we just let job opportunities pass us by while struggling to pay for accommodation at the same time. The only TD with a bit of cop
N drivers leave a lot to be desired.
Use a simulator for driving lessons and then the actual test. You can teach/ test for all road conditions and different scenarios without putting anyone else in danger. Computed test results would also be much fairer than relying on human examiners.
have your say