penalty points for learners permit

Sabrielle

Could anyone tell me how many penalty points before you lose a learners permit? Is it 6

Thanks

slimjimmc

I believe it's 12 just like a proper licence. The Road Traffic Act's definition of a licence includes learner permits from what I can see.

Delancey

In the UK it's 6 points on a provisional in 2 years and then a 6 month ban - dunno if it's the same in Ireland.

Our man in Havana

Wrong. You are confusing provisional licences and the new drivers act which only applies to full licences. A provisional licence can accumulate 12 points in 3 years and then you may get a 6 month ban at the discretion of the magistrates court.

When a person passes their test in the UK they can only get 6 points in the 2 years after passing or their licence is revoked by the DVLA and they go back to a provisional and under the new drivers act they must take all their tests again.

Sabrielle

Thanks for anyone who answered. What I heard is that for a learners permit the max is 6 points (according to a new law out this year) and that points are doubled for learner drivers so if you get a speeding penalty you would get four points instead of two. Another person told me it was 12 like a normal license. I think the general consensus from the answers above is that its 12 points. I'm in Ireland btw.

Our man in Havana

It is 12. Same as a normal licence.

You have been given the wrong information.

Sabrielle

Thanks, sometimes I think people put out these rumours as scare tactics. I was driving in a strange place the last day and my eejit of an accompanying driver told me it was an 80 zone but it was a 60 and we were stopped. Now that I know its not going to put me on a driving ban I think its a good lesson for me to always look out for things.

Sabrielle

I found this in an Irish Independant article online just now:

The 80,000 motorists who pass their test every year will:

• Have to display an 'R' (restricted) plate for two years after they pass the test.
• Be subject to a lower drink-driving limit of 20mg of alcohol per 100ml of blood, which comes into force from September.
• Be banned from driving for six months if they get six penalty points. This rule will also apply to learners and those on 'R' plates. Normally, a qualified driver receives an automatic disqualification if they accrue 12 penalty points.

The Department of Transport has also confirmed that more penalty point offences will be rolled out in the coming weeks.

Our man in Havana

There is no date of commencement for most of those yet.

Sabrielle

I'll be a good girl in future so I won't have to worry about it!