How Strict are the Guards on Unaccompanied Learner Permits These Days?

Thargor

North Wicklow/South Dublin commuting mostly, no L plates. Tbh Ive never heard of it happening to anyone personally and I know a lot of people on learners, rarely even see a squadcar these days either.

And if you do get caught have they started bringing people to court and handing out fines/points or do you get away with a first warning? All tax/insurance/NCT etc are perfect.

Sheldons Brain

Hopefully they'll throw the book at someone taking the piss on a regular basis, but alas you can't be sure in this country.

obezyana

This thread won't go well

roadsmart

Afaik you're not licenced to drive, so no, insurance is NOT perfect.

degsie

You'll be grand.

Mycroft H

Highly unlikely you'll be even caught let. When you're caught? Well depends on the Garda and depends on what humor they're in. My cousin got a 500 euro fine and some points back a couple of years ago when they were less strict.

Kopparberg Strawberry and Lime

hopefully strict enough to just ban said people from driving

visual

They did change the laws to make it more expensive and difficult for learner drivers to be on the roads.. So in theory you could end up in a lot of bother with penalties points.

Enforcement may not be that strick at certain times or places but if caught its very unlikely a blind eye will be turned.

I remember when I first started driving with my L plate unaccompanied. It's where I got my real experience and confidence to sit my driving test.

I do have some sympathy for anyone starting to learn how to drive today.

endacl

Apply for a test, do a test, pass a test. Then you won't have to ask.

Folks who won't do a test should have the book thrown at them. Folks who can't pass a test should be off the road.

Red Crow

I drove for a year on a learner permit and I wasn't stopped once. I'm against it now becuase I've passed and the rules of the road should be more strictly enforced here but the fact is that there not. You're breaking the law but it seems to be fairly common in Ireland. I'd say about 99% of learner drivers have done it more than once. I'm not going to jump down your neck about it but if the Garda doesn't like you the he can seize the car off you. It's best to just get the test over and done with.

Jesus.

Heaven preserve you when the *HHB get their hands on you OP. They'll tear you limb from limb kid. I doubt you even have an inkling as to what you've let yourself in for!



* High Horse Brigade

doolox

While I would try and get the test done as quickly as possible and learn as much as you can I would be inclined to drive on my own if I was starting off again as I got most of my experience that way. Learning to drive is very hard with the limited amount of instruction that people can afford and the level of expertise that most familt members have in this country.

Unfortunately we do not have state sponsored instruction or school based instruction like they have in the USA or services based, Army based etc... like they have in many other countries.

Our drivers mostly must provide the money and effort themselves and getting quality instruction and honest testing is a matter of luck.

I am glad I have a full car licence that those officious leeches in government cannot take off me as long as I am not caught doing something stupid.

Jesus.

Kopparberg Strawberry and Lime wrote: »

hopefully strict enough to just ban said people from driving

endacl wrote: »

Apply for a test, do a test, pass a test. Then you won't have to ask.Folks who won't do a test should have the book thrown at them. Folks who can't pass a test should be off the road.

See what I mean? :rolleyes:

noinc

You seem to have been given plenty advice there Thargor. Would you like to know anything else about breaking the law; tax evasion, working and claiming social welfare, mugging old people or are you happy just being a half wit danger on the roads?

Jesus.

noinc wrote: »

You seem to have been given plenty advice there Thargor. Would you like to know anything else about breaking the law; tax evasion, working and claiming social welfare, mugging old people or are you happy just being a half wit danger on the roads?

And it gets better. The lad's now being compared to a mugger!!!

I love this Board. Its a laugh a minute

roadsmart

Jesus. wrote: »

See what I mean? :rolleyes:

Are you saying he should drive without insurance?

visual

roadsmart wrote: »

Are you saying he should drive without insurance?

Maybe we all should ?

We pay a very over inflated price to keep this industry in the luxury its become a custom to.

Jesus.

visual wrote: »

They did change the laws to make it more expensive and difficult for learner drivers to be on the roads.. So in theory you could end up in a lot of bother with penalties points. Enforcement may not be that strick at certain times or places but if caught its very unlikely a blind eye will be turned.
I remember when I first started driving with my L plate unaccompanied. It's where I got my real experience and confidence to sit my driving test. I do have some sympathy for anyone starting to learn how to drive today.

Now don't go and start talking common sense Visual, the lad's no better than a pensioner mugger ain't you heard?

I see a kid here in the OP who's obviously a bit innocent and didn't realise the kind of rabid, foaming at the mouth psychopaths he'd be dealing with on here. My advice to you lad is to try and get your test asap even though its very expensive and quite hard to do these days but that's the way it is. Like Visual, I do have sympathy for young motorists starting off these days. Its a lot harder than in times past. In my day, none of the above applied. And wouldn't you know it, it didn't apply to the same people who are now getting off on ripping apart the OP either. None of them did 12 Official lessons, passed theory tests, had qualified drivers with them at all times etc, you can be sure of that.

That high horse hypocrite crowd are a real pain in the arse

Best just get your test mate and take it from there.

Peter T

I have to laugh at people that think an un-accompanied learner driver is a danger on the road. From my experience from driving with an L plate is people treat you as some kind of obstacle that must be passed out or maneuvered around at any cost. Think of it this way many of ye drove on learner permits without a full licenced driver as it wasnt required by law, Were ye a danger on the road?

And finally when you do your test you dont have a second opinion or set of eyes while your driving how are you supposed to learn how to perform the basics by yourself ?

Renegade Mechanic

Afaik, Insurance company Ceo's announced they would still cover these drivers unless something's changed in the last year..

Why does it have to be such a disgusting offence? Just because they suddenly said it was? Ffs, every single person advocating the monumental clusterf*ck that is now the road you must take (heh) to become a qualified driver went through a much MUCH easier system.. And Im pretty sure more non-learner drivers are involved in accidents than their L-plate wearing counterparts. Its the attitude problems, laziness amd sheer refusal to use anything other,than tunnel vision when driving thats the problem. In the countryside, is someone just expected to call a friend or their parents just so they can go to work to pay for their car and mandatory lessons!? Qualified lads really are failing to comprehend just how immensely awkward it is to follow this "law".

Graham

Renegade Mechanic wrote: »

Afaik, Insurance company Ceo's announced they would still cover these drivers unless something's changed in the last year..

From AIB/Axa Car Insurance Policy Booklet

13 Driving Licence Conditions.
No cover will apply under this policy for any driver who is not meeting the conditions of his/her licence/Learner permit. This includes conditions relating
to the class of vehicle being driven, the requirement to be accompanied when driving under a learner permit or any other restriction or condition that may apply.

Fiona

Ah the good old days, 3 lessons and then driving on the M50 out to Bray to show my Dad my new car I miss them days!

I am currently trying to help a friend of mine aquire her licence, she has done the required amount of lessons, I can only get out in the car with her once a week, her father can manage two sessions max.

She is very good behind the wheel I felt totally safe in the car with her at all times. She is terrified to drive in her own in case she is caught but I just think once you have had the correct training you need to just get out their on your own and do it.

I have had her driving on the motorway simply because you are not shown properly how to do it as your not meant to be on one when your a learner.........

hey presto you pass your test and you are a moron cos you don't know how to join a motorway properly :rolleyes::rolleyes:

I think the changes they have made to learning to drive are good in terms of the theory test and having to do the required number of lessons, I would be in favour of uping the no of lessons if it meant you could drive on the road unaccompanied.

But that will never happen!

The J Stands for Jay

Renegade Mechanic wrote: »

Why does it have to be such a disgusting offence? Just because they suddenly said it was?

Well, you've had at least 30 years to get used to that law

No Pants

Jesus. wrote: »

didn't realise the kind of rabid, foaming at the mouth psychopaths he'd be dealing with on here.

The non-existent kind?

I see what everyone is saying on here. I never drove unaccompanied, but I didn't have to do the 12 lessons or whatever it is now. I did 8 before the test and 1 after I passed on motorway driving. I would have done more, but the instructor told me it wasn't necessary.

I'm fine with a learner driving unaccompanied if it's for a limited time. After 6 months or a year, they must do a test. If they don't or they fail it, then they must be accompanied until they pass the test.

I'd rather see the focus being placed on those who don't put the L plates up and those who drive around on L plates for years.

Renegade Mechanic

McGaggs wrote: »

Well, you've had at least 30 years to get used to that law

Ok, so they started enforcing it recently then. Wonder what would happened in the 80s had they tried?

Its still stupidly difficult to live with. All its doing is annihilating the amount of time someone can be on the road for before the test because none has the time to sit with them, making the test even harder to pass.

Renegade Mechanic

Graham wrote: »

From AIB/Axa Car Insurance Policy Booklet

13 Driving Licence Conditions.
No cover will apply under this policy for any driver who is not meeting the conditions of his/her licence/Learner permit. This includes conditions relating
to the class of vehicle being driven, the requirement to be accompanied when driving under a learner permit or any other restriction or condition that may apply.

AXA did alright. But they at least made massive discounts available to drivers. My brother was able to get Insurance for 2,200. What about Sheridan (The company, not the broker). If memory serves, he was its biggest opposer. Mabye he still holds that opinion?

ABajaninCork

Ah shure, you'll be grand OP. This is Ireland after all. The only place on earth where this kind of crap is tolerated....

biko

Driving unaccompanied on a learner's permit isn't allowed, don't do it.