Cost of all driving related tests increases.

ADIDriving

Dear ADI
Please see below an important announcement from the Road Safety Authority in relation to driving test application fees.

Notice of Increase for Driving Test Fee’s
The Road Safety Authority (RSA) has announced that the fee for the driving test is increasing by €10 from €75 to €85 for cars & motorcycles and from €110 to €120 for trucks and buses effective today Tuesday 25th January 2011. The fee for the Driver Theory Test is increasing by €5 from €35.60 to €40.60 with effect from 1 February 2011.


ADI Unit
Road safety Authority

challengemaster

Are they actually trying to stop people driving or what?

Faith+1

challengemaster wrote: »

Are they actually trying to stop people driving or what?

LOL, Probably.

Glenza69

This is bull..

munchkin_utd

fair play to them, aparantly the tests were being subsidised till now and now this just makes it break even.

With the nations finance situation the way it is you can hardly justify subsidising driving tests.

Some will call it a rip off, but if all they are doing is trying to break even then that is hardly the case.

DrivingTestTips: Brian

The way things are going you would really need to prepare for your driving test; because between mandatory lessons and the price of the driving test, you would not want to sit the test too many time.

Just remember if you are young and pay a lot for insurance the savings with a full licence will make it well worth it. "OR I hope it does!"

ADIDriving

DrivingTestTips: Brian wrote: »

The way things are going you would really need to prepare for your driving test; because between mandatory lessons and the price of the driving test, you would not want to sit the test too many time.

Just remember if you are young and pay a lot for insurance the savings with a full licence will make it well worth it. "OR I hope it does!"

Just to clarify, before anyone else gets too worried. The mandetory lessons don't effect current licence holders. Anyone why gets their first learner permit from april 4th will have to take the 12 lessons when learning to drive. Currently no requirement for pre test lessons.
But it is a good point that having your full licence will reduce you insurance costs.

Compton

most places by like 100 euro so not great tbh with you.

Midnight_EG

Only when the price of a driving test goes over €120 will I care...



I think it's alright if the public pays up to and as much as €120 because the state subsidizes the cost of the test to €120 anyway!

clonadlad

ADIDriving wrote: »

Just to clarify, before anyone else gets too worried. The mandetory lessons don't effect current licence holders. Anyone why gets their first learner permit from april 4th will have to take the 12 lessons when learning to drive. Currently no requirement for pre test lessons.
But it is a good point that having your full licence will reduce you insurance costs.

What's the case if your learner permit expires after that date then you get it renewed. Will we still have to take the mandatory 12 lessons?
Thanks!

ADIDriving

clonadlad wrote: »

What's the case if your learner permit expires after that date then you get it renewed. Will we still have to take the mandatory 12 lessons?
Thanks!

No. It just applies to people getting their first learner permit.

Shellygoose

ADIDriving wrote: »

Just to clarify, before anyone else gets too worried. The mandetory lessons don't effect current licence holders. Anyone why gets their first learner permit from april 4th will have to take the 12 lessons when learning to drive. Currently no requirement for pre test lessons.
But it is a good point that having your full licence will reduce you insurance costs.

The 4th april only applys to getting a car licence.....for a motorbike/moped its been in effect since Decemeber

challengemaster

munchkin_utd wrote: »

With the nations finance situation the way it is you can hardly justify subsidising driving tests.

Some will call it a rip off, but if all they are doing is trying to break even then that is hardly the case.

Honestly? You really think they'd still be going the way they are if they weren't making a profit on it? Nothing is ever set up with an intention of making a loss, especially in Ireland.

ADIDriving

challengemaster wrote: »

Honestly? You really think they'd still be going the way they are if they weren't making a profit on it? Nothing is ever set up with an intention of making a loss, especially in Ireland.

Something set up by the Irish Government that makes a profit. Surely you jest. Driving tests make a loss like everything else that SHOULD make a profit.

Ghost Estate

Great! More sh1te from Fianna Feck because they broke from bailing out their cronies.

A few years ago at the height of the Tiger they did it for 40 euros. what the hell?

ccfcian

ADIDriving wrote: »

Just to clarify, before anyone else gets too worried. The mandetory lessons don't effect current licence holders. Anyone why gets their first learner permit from april 4th will have to take the 12 lessons when learning to drive. Currently no requirement for pre test lessons.
But it is a good point that having your full licence will reduce you insurance costs.

Hello, i'm a bit confused by all these new rules about licences and mandatory amount of lessons. I got my first learner's permit today, does that mean i won't be affected by the new rules because i got it before april 4th ?

DrivingTestTips: Brian

ccfcian wrote: »

Hello, i'm a bit confused by all these new rules about licences and mandatory amount of lessons. I got my first learner's permit today, does that mean i won't be affected by the new rules because i got it before april 4th ?

You are correct; you will not need to sit mandatory lessons......... BUT please get lessons for you own sake.

"The point I was making earlier, passing your test will save you money in the long-run".

Ghost Estate

Good to see the driving instructors well looked after by our government.

ccfcian

DrivingTestTips: Brian wrote: »

You are correct; you will not need to sit mandatory lessons......... BUT please get lessons for you own sake.

"The point I was making earlier, passing your test will save you money in the long-run".

I'll definitely be getting proper lessons, it's just all these new rules are confusing.

Cheers for the reply.

ADIDriving

Ghost Estate wrote: »

Good to see the driving instructors well looked after by our government.

...or it could be to help reduce the hundreds of deaths on the road each year.

...or it could be because we are one of the only coutries in the EU that does not have compulsory lessons.

...or it could be because the average Irish driver is (not very good) and as a collective we need to improve our attitude, awareness and skills.

...

challengemaster

ADIDriving wrote: »

...or it could be to help reduce the hundreds of deaths on the road each year.

Ah here, I think you're the one who jests. The revenue cameras aren't saving lives in the slightest, and if you pop into the Motors forum you'll see a nice thread on how speed cameras actually INCREASE road deaths.

I actually don't believe the RSA could be any more unrelated to decreasing road deaths, and they certainly aren't the cause of any drop in recent years, despite what they like to claim.

ADIDriving

challengemaster wrote: »

Ah here, I think you're the one who jests. The revenue cameras aren't saving lives in the slightest, and if you pop into the Motors forum you'll see a nice thread on how speed cameras actually INCREASE road deaths.

I actually don't believe the RSA could be any more unrelated to decreasing road deaths, and they certainly aren't the cause of any drop in recent years, despite what they like to claim.

You are off on a tangent with the speed cameras. It is not what the thread was about.

I would be interested to know why you think there has been a significant drop in road deaths.

Midnight_EG

ADIDriving wrote: »

You are off on a tangent with the speed cameras. It is not what the thread was about.

I would be interested to know why you think there has been a significant drop in road deaths.

It's very obvious...look at the weather we had over the Winter!


Not many people would have driven at all...so less chance of death when nobody is on the road

ADIDriving

In 2008 there were 279 deaths on Irish roads.
In 2009 the deaths fell to 239.
40 less people died.
Roughly 14% less.

Midnight_EG

ADIDriving wrote: »

In 2008 there were 279 deaths on Irish roads.
In 2009 the deaths fell to 239.
40 less people died.
Roughly 14% less.

Even 1% is a significant drop when it comes to human lives, so surely 40 people not dead means it was good...



I also love how you basically ignored all that I said...


One more thing...check the stats for 2009/2010 and 2010/2011 when you can, I'm sure that'll be a much better figure, rather than figures from 2/3 years ago :rolleyes:

ADIDriving

Midnight_EG wrote: »

Even 1% is a significant drop when it comes to human lives, so surely 40 people not dead means it was good...

Yes. Any reduction is good. The bigger the reduction the better. I agree. I don't think I said anything that would suggest I believe otherwise.

I also love how you basically ignored all that I said...

The thread started as a statement about the cost of driving tests. Then developed into a discussion about manditory lessons. I believe this will help make the roads safer and that the RSA help make the roads safer.
My point was that the number of deaths is falling by the actions of the RSA. The weather is out of our control. The simple figures I used were just to show that road deaths are falling and it is not simply because of the weather, which was as I recall significanly different between 2008 and 2009. The figures are different for 2010, but those figures can be skewed by the weather.

One more thing...check the stats for 2009/2010 and 2010/2011 when you can, I'm sure that'll be a much better figure, rather than figures from 2/3 years ago :rolleyes:

The question I was asking was, if it not the RSA's actions why are road deaths falling.

Midnight_EG

ADIDriving wrote: »

The question I was asking was, if it not the RSA's actions why are road deaths falling.

It's not the RSA's actions that are making the figure fall at all, they're helping it if anything!


When you see a speed camera/van, what are most peoples first reaction? To stand on the brakes and suddenly a LWB Transit is sitting on your back seat!

How many backroads and potholed streets do the RSA fix...actually, a better one...how many of those roads do they place a speed-camera or van on?

You know, the roads that actually cause deaths? Not the safest roads in the country, the motorways...?

ADIDriving

ADIDriving wrote: »

The question I was asking was, if it not the RSA's actions why are road deaths falling.

It is just a question.

MascotDec85

ADIDriving wrote: »

In 2008 there were 279 deaths on Irish roads.
In 2009 the deaths fell to 239.
40 less people died.
Roughly 14% less.

212 died in 2010 so a further drop

challengemaster

ADIDriving wrote: »

The question I was asking was, if it not the RSA's actions why are road deaths falling.

No, you're entirely right. It's all sexist/ageist campaigns the RSAs doing that road deaths are falling. Nothing to do with new, better road networks (motorways being completed), constant improvement in vehicle safety from year to year, less people driving due to recession, newer vehicles on the roads due to the celtic tiger era, adverse conditions causing people to not drive, etc etc.

Sitting back and attributing everything to the RSA who actually do nothing to help decrease road deaths, just deserves one giant facepalm.

But here, let's take some things from the RSA's site just to see what their opinion is like.

http://rsa.ie/en/Utility/News/2011/Road-Deaths-Fall-for-5th-Consecutive-Year/

Some of the key provisional statistics for 2010 include;

* 38% of road deaths were under 25 years of age.
* 57% of road deaths occurred at the weekend.
* Sunday was the most dangerous day of the week with 54 road deaths
* The hours between 6pm and 8pm were the most dangerous, with 27 deaths (13%)
* The average monthly fatality rate in 2009 was 18 compared to 20 in 2009 and 23 in 2008.
* The safest month of the year was December when 10 deaths occurred. This is also the safety month on record.
* The worst month was October in which 36 people lost their lives
* 167 (79%) or those killed on the roads were male.

Now, let's look at these, shall we?

* 38% of road deaths were under 25 years of age.
So, 62% of road deaths were over 25 years of age. Excellent. Glad to see them portraying young drivers in such a good light.

* 57% of road deaths occurred at the weekend.
Bit of a pointless statistic, seems like it was just put in as filler? Ok, so 43% of deaths were during the week. But people have more free time to use their vehicles during the weekend, also - 23% of road deaths are pedestrian/cyclist - also more likely to be out on weekends.

* Sunday was the most dangerous day of the week with 54 road deaths
I don't really see what the RSA can do about that one? Ban people from leaving the house on a sunday? Again, pointless.

* The hours between 6pm and 8pm were the most dangerous, with 27 deaths (13%)
Finally, something useful! although, if you consider that 7-9am and 6-8pm are the most likely times for high traffic capacity on the roads, and that depending on the time of year, can be particularly dark - it would make sense that it's a high risk time. So stating the obvious goes down on the list.

* The safest month of the year was December when 10 deaths occurred. This is also the safety month on record.

They also fail to mention any causes for this, such as adverse weather conditions where there's a substancial drop in road usage.

* 167 (79%) or those killed on the roads were male.

Males make up a much higher percentage of road users than females. So we've got more bad interpretation of stats to promote sexism.

Not once do they break down those stats into their constituents - how many male/female cyclists/pedestrians/drivers/etc - lump it all together, and when males account for more, they become more dangerous.

For all the money the RSA swallows up, it really has very little to show for it.
The head of the RSA can't even wear a seatbelt properly
http://www.thejournal.ie/gaybo-the-real-reason-i-wasnt-wearing-my-seatbelt-properly-2011-02/

and lets not forget this
http://www.studentsmart.ie/blog/2009/07/i-drank-drove-home-from-late-late-says-gay/

Permabear

This post has been deleted.

ADIDriving

challengemaster wrote: »

No, you're entirely right.
Sorry, I just could not delete this bit. (I choose to misinterpret your sarcasim.)

The RSA is sexist and ageist. I agree. It is unfair and inaccurate that the RSA and the Gardai so heavily target young male drivers. All law breakers should be treated equally. I meet guys aged 19/20 that drive almost perfectly all the time and I have had middle aged and elderly women pass the test that are pure rubbish. ( The opposite is also true ).
The RSA does waste vast amounts of money. It is ultimately a government body and government and efficient rarely fit in the same sentance.
Gay Byrne is a figure head to promote road safety and little more. A job he is not doing well at the moment, agreed. Noel Brett is really the man in charge.

... new, better road networks (motorways being completed), constant improvement in vehicle safety from year to year, less people driving due to recession, newer vehicles on the roads due to the celtic tiger era, adverse conditions causing people to not drive, etc etc.

Agreed. These are contributing factor.

Sitting back and attributing everything to the RSA who actually do nothing to help decrease road deaths, just deserves one giant facepalm.

Attributing everything to the RSA would be foolish. But to attribute nothing is perhaps cynical and unfair. Give some credit where it is due.
As regards your detailed breakdown of the stats, there are points I agree with and others I disagree with, but that is a different debate.

I preferr to look at more simple facts. (I have a very short attenti...)
Average road deaths per anum 2001 - 2005 was 380
The Road Safety Authority is established
Average road deaths per anum 2006 - 2010 was 287
They may do many things wrong. But they have to be doing some thing right.

http://www.irishtimes.com/newspaper/breaking/2010/0622/breaking29.html
http://www.irishtimes.com/newspaper/ireland/2010/0520/1224270711390.html