Prov drivers pulled over by Garda?

Gaillimh1990

Hi,
I am just wondering was anybody in GALWAY driving on a provisional licence and pulled by the gardai?

What did they say to you? What was your excuse? What happened; were you let away?

PLEASE, NO SMART COMMENTS OR POST FROM PEOPLE SAYING STUFF LIKE 'OH PROVISIONAL DRIVERS SHOCULDNT BE DRIVING!!'


Just curious,

Many thanks in advamce,
Gaillimh:D:D;););)

sgthighway

This topic is not unique to Galway. I suggest you post in the Motors Forum which is more geared to Drivers.

OH PROVISIONAL DRIVERS SHOULDN'T BE DRIVING.

Robbo

sgthighway wrote: »

This topic is not unique to Galway. I suggest you post in the Motors Forum which is more geared to Drivers.

Even better, if you go to the Learning to Drive subforum, you can be patronised by a far lesser class of driver.

OP, pass the test. The Irish driving test is so basic that if it troubles you, you probably cannot tie your shoelaces without a responsible adult present.

Jugs82

Robbo wrote: »

Even better, if you go to the Learning to Drive subforum, you can be patronised by a far lesser class of driver.

OP, pass the test. The Irish driving test is so basic that if it troubles you, you probably cannot tie your shoelaces without a responsible adult present.

No offence but thats b*****k

And as for the shoelace comments, thats just been a pric (no offence of course)

Robbo

Jugs82 wrote: »

No offence but thats b*****k

And as for the shoelace comments, thats just been a pric (no offence of course)

If you can't drive around an urban area for 20-30 minutes without either binning it or stalling it, I fail to see your calling on the road.

my_ais

Gaillimh, ill actually answer your question as everyone else appears to be stuck up their own ar$e on the subject. I drove for two years on a provisional with my L plates up at all times, was stopped about three times in total (was waved through numerous check-points when i was clearly an unaccompanied driver). Twice i was asked which license i had, first time it was first provisional, second time it was second provisional when the law had changed and I should still have been accompanied, when i showed them i was told both times, by two different Gardai obviously to "go easy then"!!
Ive since passed my test and never been stopped!! I guess if they are looking for reasons to get you then they will use it against you, otherwise, continue as you are

JIZZLORD

my_ais wrote: »

Gaillimh, ill actually answer your question as everyone else appears to be stuck up their own ar$e on the subject

calm down
a driver on a provisional should be accompanied at all times. never happens all the time in real life but it's the law

dafunk

JIZZLORD wrote: »

calm down
a driver on a provisional should be accompanied at all times. never happens all the time in real life but it's the law

There's lotf of laws - it's hard to remember all of them.

Xiney

Just sucks 'cause the law is kinda geared towards 17 year olds living at home with their parents.

I mean, I've my provisional now, but I've no one to sit next to my in the car. Himself hasn't even got his provisional (although I'm bugging him to get it)

So the only practise I'm gonna get is lessons? siht. I'm well fcuked then, since at 40+ euro a pop paying for (hopefully) 10 of them is a massive problem already.


Also, they're making me wait 6 months before I take the test so I get "practise". Which I can't get because uh, I've no one to practise with.

Sorry. Just a little ranty on the subject.

gd1987

According to traffic blues theres no penalty for driving with a provisional, ya can even fill the back of your car with kids and play no seat belts.

As said already unless ya give them a reason to hassle ya about, you'll be fine.

sgthighway

What happens if a First time Provisional Licensed Driver crashes into me. Will his/her Insurance Company cover them if they are by themselves?

OP - If you get stopped and pass the attitude test I would imagine you will be okay once there are no offences.

snubbleste

sgthighway wrote: »

OP - If you get stopped and pass the attitude test I would imagine you will be okay once there are no offences.

PCPhoto

OP.... if you get a garda on a bad day you might be in trouble, if you are willing to take that risk then by all means - drive on !!

it IS illegal and the gardai have been told to enforce it.....but it all depends on how busy/lazy a garda is..... I'm pretty sure most of the time you will be allowed to continue on your journey.... but dont expect it to happen all the time.

Try to get your licence as fast as possible - take as many lessons as possible (too many people on the roads learn bad habits from parents teaching them to drive)

if everyone had official lessons it would mean a similar standard of driving throughout the country...unfortunately doesnt seem to be happening.

sgthighway

sgthighway wrote: »

What happens if a First time Provisional Licensed Driver crashes into me. Will his/her Insurance Company cover them if they are by themselves?

yep.. the insurance companies came together and agreed to. they can then recoup costs of provisional driver

on ipod so too much hassle to find source, sorry

Mrs OBumble

JIZZLORD wrote: »

calm down
a driver on a provisional should be accompanied at all times. never happens all the time in real life but it's the law

It does happen in some countries.

There's a reason that it's now called a "learner permit" instead of a "provisional licence".

There are some circumstances (eg people coming from countries that Ireland doesn't have a licence-trade-in arrangement with) where it's nonsense. Other than that, 'tis a very sensible idea.

Xiney

Yeah, I'll admit that in Canada if you got caught driving unaccompanied you'd be hung out to dry by the cops.

Then again, lessons are cheaper. And everyone drives automatic so the test is easier as well.

Jugs82

Jugs82 wrote: »

No offence but thats b*****k

And as for the shoelace comments, thats just been a pric (no offence of course)

What swearword is that? Bollock? Why only just one ...

biko

Stay legal, folks

Discodog

I find it disturbing that our government can pass a law & then the Gardai can decide whether to impliment it or not. Why bother with legislation, just let the Guards decide ?.

It should be 100% clear that, after a given date, everyone caught will be prosecuted.

Surely anyone driving unaccompanied would also be uninsured ?.

KevR

Have my full licence a couple of years now but I drove out to Tuam unaccompanied to take my driving test out there.

I passed anyway but imagine failing and being allowed to drive home unaccompanied - only in Ireland! :rolleyes:

They weren't as strict back then though. I doubt I'd chance it now.

banshee_bones

was chatting to a guard out the last night and i asked him about this because i was after starting a new job and when my hours increased would need to get on the road and its not exactly feasabile to drag someone around with you every day you have to go to work like comon FFS!
and he said that they wont call you up on that alone BUT if theres anything else wrong like no L plates,tax,insurance etc then they would do you for the whole lot together.

po0k

I drove with L-plates on my own in and out of town while I was waiting for the test, having first gotten myself a bunch of lessons and a bit of confidence behind the wheel.
As they were rubbish plates (non-adhesive, static flaps of plastic) and kept faling down, I binned them, replaced them and they too fell off. Couldn't find decent L-plates anywhere.

Never been stopped, but then I don't drive like a loon.

cornbb

banshee_bones wrote: »

was chatting to a guard out the last night and i asked him about this because i was after starting a new job and when my hours increased would need to get on the road and its not exactly feasabile to drag someone around with you every day you have to go to work like comon FFS!

I'm not judging you or anything as I did the same myself years ago, but you've gotta bear in mind that the provisional license is a license to learn to drive, not to drive to work, drive to the shops etc. Its not feasible to get someone to accompany you to work every day but it should be feasible to get someone to accompany you for a few evenings a week for a few months til you pass the test. Some people really take the piss, driving around on a provisional license for years and not bothering to ever take/pass the test cause they can get away with it. Sorry if I'm sounding judgemental, I don't mean to be, I'm just pointing out that a provisional license isn't supposed to permit you to drive to the same extent as a full license. I can't really blame people for treating it like a full license though, with the driving test waiting lists as long as they are.

big b

I was going to post something similar to Cornbb, but wee Banshee Bones seems so cute & I didn't want to upset her! :pac:

But yeah, it's yet another law that some people are so blase about. It's easy to be blase until a provisional driver bumps your car, their insurance say the claim is invalid cos they were unaccompanied & therefore driving illegally, mucho hassle ensues.

I know people have to get to work, but there's been plenty of time now to take a test (or two). There's no excuse really.

galwaybob

the law is cock. Some of the best drivers in the country are on provisional's

Mrs OBumble

Discodog wrote: »

Surely anyone driving unaccompanied would also be uninsured ?.

In any other country, yes that would be correct.

However here it seems that driving legally (sober, within the speed limit, with an appropriate licence, etc) is not a requirement for insurance cover. No idea why.

jhegarty

JustMary wrote: »

In any other country, yes that would be correct.

However here it seems that driving legally (sober, within the speed limit, with an appropriate licence, etc) is not a requirement for insurance cover. No idea why.

Would you rather be left out of pocket because an a speeding drink driver hit you ?

big b

galwaybob wrote: »

the law is cock. Some of the best drivers in the country are on provisional's

So why don't you prove it by passing the test & getting a licence?

Or should we just have a free for all, where everyone can drive without any need to prove competence?

Mr. Presentable

galwaybob wrote: »

the law is cock. Some of the best drivers in the country are on provisional's

Maybe, but not a single one has been tested successfully, so there's no evidence to back up your remarkable claim.

cornbb

JustMary wrote: »

However here it seems that driving legally (sober, within the speed limit, with an appropriate licence, etc) is not a requirement for insurance cover. No idea why.

I'm pretty sure that's not the case. I've worked for insurance companies in the past (although not motor insurance companies) and they will do anything they can to avoid paying out a claim, like worn tyres or driving over the limit. I made a claim for theft once and the guy they sent to check out the car (after it was recovered) gave it a good going over to make sure it was roadworthy. I'm not sure if it extends to "lesser" offences like blown lightbulbs or driving unaccompanied though.

galwaybob

big b wrote: »

So why don't you prove it by passing the test & getting a licence?

Or should we just have a free for all, where everyone can drive without any need to prove competence?

Look the test as it stands does not prove driver competence at all imo.
Some of the most atrocious drivers I have ever known have passed it first time while some of the best drivers I know have failed it for some silly infraction which would never be an issue in the real world

big b

galwaybob wrote: »

Look the test as it stands does not prove driver competence at all imo.
Some of the most atrocious drivers I have ever known have passed it first time while some of the best drivers I know have failed it for some silly infraction which would never be an issue in the real world

Not much I need add to that, really.

banshee_bones

cornbb wrote: »

I'm not judging you or anything as I did the same myself years ago, but you've gotta bear in mind that the provisional license is a license to learn to drive, not to drive to work, drive to the shops etc. Its not feasible to get someone to accompany you to work every day but it should be feasible to get someone to accompany you for a few evenings a week for a few months til you pass the test. Some people really take the piss, driving around on a provisional license for years and not bothering to ever take/pass the test cause they can get away with it. Sorry if I'm sounding judgemental, I don't mean to be, I'm just pointing out that a provisional license isn't supposed to permit you to drive to the same extent as a full license. I can't really blame people for treating it like a full license though, with the driving test waiting lists as long as they are.

big b wrote: »

I was going to post something similar to Cornbb, but wee Banshee Bones seems so cute & I didn't want to upset her! :pac:

But yeah, it's yet another law that some people are so blase about. It's easy to be blase until a provisional driver bumps your car, their insurance say the claim is invalid cos they were unaccompanied & therefore driving illegally, mucho hassle ensues.

I know people have to get to work, but there's been plenty of time now to take a test (or two). There's no excuse really.

Ah lads yeah i hear what ye are saying. I understand, like obviously if i get a car i would try and be accompanied as much as i could like ya know, all my mates are full license holders anyway that id be driving around with anyway! so it really would only be going to work. My biggest incentive to pass would be to bring my insurance down! Believe me that would make me want to pass my test fairly lively!

Mrs OBumble

jhegarty wrote: »

Would you rather be left out of pocket because an a speeding drink driver hit you ?

Nope!

The system here is good in that compulsory insurance increases the chance that the person who hits me will have insurance, and thus decreases the chance that my insurance will have to cover the cost. So it's good for me.

But I'm not sure that it's good for society: the fact that you are still insured even when you are breaking the law removes one of the incentives to stay legal. (Urgh, that's a horrible sentence. But you know what i mean).

Mrs OBumble

cornbb wrote: »

I'm pretty sure that's not the case. I've worked for insurance companies in the past (although not motor insurance companies) and they will do anything they can to avoid paying out a claim, like worn tyres or driving over the limit. I made a claim for theft once and the guy they sent to check out the car (after it was recovered) gave it a good going over to make sure it was roadworthy. I'm not sure if it extends to "lesser" offences like blown lightbulbs or driving unaccompanied though.

Glad to hear it.

I can't see that driving without a licence is a lesser offence: there is no such thing as a "provisional licence" any more, they're now called "learner permits" and do not allow you to drive unaccompanied.

listowel1

have never been pulled over yet!!

anybody know how long waiting list is in westside now for driving test,hopefully not too far off topic!

stepbar

After buying my first car, I drove around without an L place for 5 months. Got the licence then and of course it wasn't a problem. During that period I drove every weekend up and down from Dublin to Leitrim and drove down to Doolin on one particular occasion. Never stopped once. In fact since then I've never been stopped. I don't bring attention to myself when driving and as such have no reason to be stopped. I'm not advocating that people drive without L plates but what I'm saying is that if you want to drive without one you can do it if you're smart enough.

MattKid

They were stopping cars in Doughiska on Saturday to see licenses.

cornbb

I've never ever been pulled over or breathalysed or anything in 8 years of driving, that just seems wrong.

gaeilgegrinds

After years of never being stopped saw them stopping certain cars in Westside today. I was beckoned forward, wearing a suit so seems to make a difference. However the three I saw them stopping were all rather young drivers. A little aside, buy my friend in Millstreet uses boards.

Tribesman29

Phew, passed the test on Monday.

pandamoanium

Tribesman29 wrote: »

Phew, passed the test on Monday.

Congrats on passing your test!

You must be delighted with yourself!

I have my test next week - not looking forward to it at all!

What route did you get taken on?

I don't know Westside well at all.. hence me looking for some good pre-tester but I'm at a loss!

Keeping on topic...

Anyone here been watching that new RTE show Traffic Blues? The amount of Learner Drivers that get pulled over and have no accompanied driver or L Plates and off they get sent on their merry way with no court summons or large fine.. it doesn't really send out the right message does it?

I'll admit after seeing those episodes I'm tempted to go out by myself, sometimes I feel like I'm the only muppet who bothers to obey the law and only driver when I have a full licenced holder with me.. *sighs*

Oh and regarding people not getting stopped at checkpoints etc.. I have - 3 times already! I don't drive erratic or draw attention to myself, I just seem to encounter loads of checkpoints lately.. maybe it's just me though!

The Freeman

pandamoanium wrote: »

Congrats on passing your test!

You must be delighted with yourself!

I have my test next week - not looking forward to it at all!

What route did you get taken on?

I don't know Westside well at all.. hence me looking for some good pre-tester but I'm at a loss!

Keeping on topic...

Anyone here been watching that new RTE show Traffic Blues? The amount of Learner Drivers that get pulled over and have no accompanied driver or L Plates and off they get sent on their merry way with no court summons or large fine.. it doesn't really send out the right message does it?

I'll admit after seeing those episodes I'm tempted to go out by myself, sometimes I feel like I'm the only muppet who bothers to obey the law and only driver when I have a full licenced holder with me.. *sighs*

Oh and regarding people not getting stopped at checkpoints etc.. I have - 3 times already! I don't drive erratic or draw attention to myself, I just seem to encounter loads of checkpoints lately.. maybe it's just me though!

have you ben stopped in checkpoints in galway?

i am a newly extablished provisional driver and would like to know how many of ye have been stopped recently on the road for checking of licences?

gary82

They had a checkpoint setup on that steep road between Wood Quay (near Argos) and Prospect Hill the other day.

I was walking up, realised I forgot to get something in Lidl.... turned around and headed back.... it was just after turning back I realised how sus I must have looked!!

biko

I've been driving in Galway City since 5 years or so and never was stopped.
Was stopped in other counties though but only for breathalyser, speeding and discs check.

galwayrush

I read that title wrong, thought it had something to do with IRA people being pulled over

KevR

6,000 learner drivers fined for breaking the law

KevR

KevR wrote: »

6,000 learner drivers fined for breaking the law

I'd like to see a breakdown of those figures, how many were drivers with everything in order, in a respectful(not a boy racer type)car and no additional offences(speeding etc....)... i'd say it's fairly low.