Learner Drivers

Hagar

According to TV3 News this morning Gardaí have fined 1,400 learner drivers €1,000 each for driving either un-accompanied or for not displaying L-plates.

They are taking this seriously maybe you learner drivers should too.

Feelgood

Hagar wrote: »

According to TV3 News this morning Gardaí have fined 1,400 learner drivers €1,000 each for driving either un-accompanied or for not displaying L-plates.

They are taking this seriously maybe you learner drivers should too.

What was the ratio though?. Was it 1399 were fined for having no L plates and 1 was fined for driving un-accompanied?.

I can't see them enforcing the whole driving un-accompanied thing to be honest, not with the amount of provisional licensed drivers we have on the road.

Even if they were, I have been driving to and from Dublin for nearly 5 years now and have seen about 2 cops on the road in that time. They ain't got the manpower to enforce it.

Basq

As a learner driver myself, people keep telling me to just go out in the car whenever I've a chance irregardless of whether I've an accompanied driver with me or not. But I'll admit that I haven't been driving unaccompanied since the new law came into effect. I think it's the fear that I'll be the one learner driver who'll be made an example of.. as absolutely no-one I know (and I know plenty of learner drivers driving unaccompanied daily) have been caught.

That being said.. I've been learning in my mother's car and my family are rarely there for me to go out regularly. This is an annoyance and is probably delaying the process of getting my full licence - bit of a catch 22.. by refusing to drive unaccompanied, i'm delaying the process of getting my full license by driving regularly and feeling more comfortable!

Still, this news is comforting that my refusal at driving unaccompanied hasn't been in vain.

Feelgood

basquille wrote: »

i'm delaying the process of getting my full license by driving regularly and feeling more comfortable!

On a good note though your probably not picking up any bad habits!.

OrangeDaisy

As far as I know, they can only fine you a maximum of €1000 for the first offence even if you're driving alone with no L plates up. Here in Cork they're taking it seriously enough about a month ago they caught 11 people one night in Douglas and prosecuted them all.

ciaran76

From RTE....

Hundreds of people have been caught breaching the new regulations for learner drivers.

New figures obtained from the gardaí show 1400 offences have been committed over a two month period.

The new rules for learner drivers were introduced by the Government in July, the most significant of which affected those on a second provisional licence.

Previously, such drivers were permitted to drive alone, but under the new rules they now have to be accompanied by the holder of full licence of two years.

Most offenders were caught driving unaccompanied and failing to display 'L' plates. Both offences carry fines of up to €1000.

The Road Safety Authority has welcomed the figures saying it is clear that new rules were being enforced.

ciaran76

Hagar wrote: »

According to TV3 News this morning Gardaí have fined 1,400 learner drivers €1,000 each for driving either un-accompanied or for not displaying L-plates.

They are taking this seriously maybe you learner drivers should too.

No only a couple hundred have been fined. There was 1400 offences.

TestTransmission

Hagar wrote: »

According to TV3 News this morning Gardaí have fined 1,400 learner drivers €1,000 each for driving either un-accompanied or for not displaying L-plates.

They are taking this seriously maybe you learner drivers should too.

Good news , its not like theyre breaking the law or anything. :rolleyes:

Hagar

ciaran76 wrote: »

No only a couple hundred have been fined. There was 1400 offences.

How do you know that?

/edit I suppose it's possible alright but they are still paying for two offences presumably.

ciaran76

Hagar wrote: »

How do you know that?

/edit I suppose it's possible alright but they are still paying for two offences presumably.

Yeah I'd assume 2 offences would be the minimum.

nogoodnamesleft

Our work premises is located close to a third level institution and the amount of L drivers driving here is unbelievable since the collage returned in the last week or so. If the gardai had a tax/insurance checkpoint in conjunction with looking for L plate drivers im sure the gardai presence alone would make L drivers driving unaccompanied think twice about it doing it in future.... just my two cents

LJ Morris

I am currently a learner driver. The only full license holders in my family are my parents and I am insured on my mother's car. I feel this accompanied-by-a-full-license-holder-driver law is ri-dic-u-lous. How are we supposed to acheive experiece or improve on the neccessary driving skills whilst having a (usually older) driver sitting beside us shouting at us what to do (even thought all you have learnt is from a licenced instructor). I agree that although certain learner drivers can be hazardous - this isn't the case for us all. I feel a law should be made that there is a sort of inbetween license, like, for instance, a "probational full-license holder" - for those who although possess the skills required to eventually acheive complete driving credibility, have yet to gain some further knowledge in driving situations that can only be learnt unaccompanied. Afterall, will there be someone sitting beside you after you pass that crucial driving test? I don't think so.

**Timbuk2**

Firstly, the thread is 3 years old.

Secondly, the rule isn't ridiculous. If you believe yourself to be competent enough to drive on your own, then surely you can manage to drive for 30 minutes, making less than 9 serious errors, in 50km/h zones in daylight. Test waiting times are extremely short now, so my advice would be just to pass as soon as possible (book it, pay for it, then ring and ask for a cancellation slot if you're extremely keen), then you can drive unaccompanied to your heart's content.

pudzey101

**Timbuk2** wrote: »

Firstly, the thread is 3 years old.

Secondly, the rule isn't ridiculous. If you believe yourself to be competent enough to drive on your own, then surely you can manage to drive for 30 minutes, making less than 9 serious errors, in 50km/h zones in daylight. Test waiting times are extremely short now, so my advice would be just to pass as soon as possible (book it, pay for it, then ring and ask for a cancellation slot if you're extremely keen), then you can drive unaccompanied to your heart's content.

Well said:) Unfortnunatly driving unaccompanied to my heart's content isint much exciting anymore as iv now got my full hahaha:)

-Chris-

Hi LJ Morris,

Please don't resurrect old threads. Start a new one if you want. Have a look at the Charter before posting again.

Thread closed