Road Traffic Bill 2009

brian076

It would appear that 1 Penalty Point will be given for anyone caught driving unaccompanied in the new bill (Page 45).

Random

If you're gonna have a rule then enforce it. I don't see it as a bad thing.

(I've not read the bill, assuming OP is correct)

kerry4sam

Click http://www.oireachtas.ie/viewdoc.asp?DocID=13174 for a link to the Road Traffic Bill 2009.

As said above, I also agree the 1-point for learner driver driving unaccompanied to be a good idea, once actually enforced.

Cabaal

Good idea, needs to be done and enforced
I've only heard of one person being fined the 1k for driving on their own since the new law

sean6477

Is this instead of the 1K fine or aswell as?

Permabear

This post has been deleted.

jhegarty

I think the €1000 would do a far better job of focusing ones mind than 1 point.

NukaCola

jhegarty wrote: »

I think the €1000 would do a far better job of focusing ones mind than 1 point.

If learners are going to drive with the risk of a Fine of 1000 + 1000 if no L plates up i doubt 1 penalty point will stop them. Should be given more than one penalty point TBH...

greenie

I think they should bring in heavier fines for non learners too who pay no attention to speed limits. Lately I've been more & more shocked at the amount of near misses I've been witnessing.
I do feel bad for some learners who don't have someone to practise with. If you want to pass your test you need to practise everyday but you can't be expected to pay for driving lessons (on top of your actual lessons) just to have someone sit with you while you drive around. It's a long process with the test waiting times.

Wishbone Ash

greenie wrote: »

you can't be expected to pay for driving lessons (on top of your actual lessons) just to have someone sit with you while you drive around. It's a long process with the test waiting times.

Truck and bus drivers seem to manage it - very few would have their own truck or bus to practise in and lessons are much more expensive for the larger categories.

Test waiting times are quite short now. It's not so long ago that 300,000 holders of Provisional Licences hadn't applied for a test (and that was before the 6 month rule) yet they still complained about test waiting times.

greenie

Wishbone Ash wrote: »

Truck and bus drivers seem to manage it - very few would have their own truck or bus to practise in and lessons are much more expensive for the larger categories.

Test waiting times are quite short now. It's not so long ago that 300,000 holders of Provisional Licences hadn't applied for a test (and that was before the 6 month rule) yet they still complained about test waiting times.

A 4 month wait is not that short, perhaps compared to a couple of years ago it is but back then it was ok to drive alone so there wasn't a rush. To be honest I don't know much about the truck and bus driver process or whether the pass/fail ratio is the same as cars, I'm just saying it's tough for some people in certain circumstances. Lessons alone are not enough and practising daily with an instructor is too costly (40 euro a day for 4 months) plus in many centres theres more of a chance you'll fail so add more time on to that. I guess it's tough for larger category vehicle learners too, now that I think about it!!

NukaCola

greenie wrote: »

Lessons alone are not enough and practising daily with an instructor is too costly

Ask Family members, Friends, Neighbours, work colleagues who have licenses.
Ask them to sit in the car with you for an hour.
Or if you drive to work set up a car pool?
There are plenty of other ways to gain experience.