History of the driving licence

manfield

this is a good one. one of my kids asked me when was the Driving licence introduced in Ireland. had a look but cant find out. now i know in England it was introduced around the 1930's but Ireland??? anyone know the answer:)

muffler

Moved from Donegal forum.

CiniO

Around 2008.
Before that most people just drove on provisional...

coylemj

I did a backwards search based on repeals mentioned in the various Road Traffic Acts and it looks like the driving licence was introduced in the Road Traffic Act 1933. Because there was no driving test at the time, it appears that the sole purpose of the licence was so that they could take away the privilege of being allowed to drive based on a conviction for drunk or dangerous driving.

In other words, they had to give you something in order to take it from you.

http://www.irishstatutebook.ie/eli/1933/act/11/enacted/en/html

Wibbs

My da got his in 34, so they were definitely around by then. No test required, I remember him telling me he went in to some office or other in Dublin with money and came out licenced to drive.

porsche boy

I have been told by father, uncles etc the they all just bought a licence, that would have been in the 50's. I believe the test itself was introduced in the early 60's.

mb1725

Anyone have one of these licences?

coylemj

mb1725 wrote: »

Anyone have one of these licences?

Yes, the provisional licence had a grey cover.

knipex

porsche boy wrote: »

I have been told by father, uncles etc the they all just bought a licence, that would have been in the 50's. I believe the test itself was introduced in the early 60's.

March 18th 1964

http://www.independent.ie/life/motoring/car-talk/why-roads-are-safer-after-50-years-of-the-driving-test-30062291.html

ohnonotgmail

mb1725 wrote: »

Anyone have one of these licences?

my first provisional licence was that like that except in grey. i feel old now.

Wibbs

Mine was on vellum. In Latin.

coylemj

Wibbs wrote: »

Mine was on vellum. In Latin.

One axle or two? How many horses?

Guy:Incognito

coylemj wrote: »

One axle or two? How many horses?

4 Christian power.

Skyfarm

don't forget the 50,000 g driving licenses were given out because of the postal strike
http://www.independent.ie/life/motoring/car-talk/why-roads-are-safer-after-50-years-of-the-driving-test-30062291.html

mikeecho

Skyfarm wrote: »

don't forget the 50,000 g driving licenses were given out because of the postal strike
http://www.independent.ie/life/motoring/car-talk/why-roads-are-safer-after-50-years-of-the-driving-test-30062291.html

Almost 40 years ago... old news.


Some more old news

1979
Mar 18 "On the 20th Century" closes at St James Theater NYC after 460 performances

Mar 18 Battles between Kurds & Iranians break in Sananday, Iran

Mar 18 Joanne Carner wins LPGA Honda Civic Golf Classic

GM228

coylemj wrote: »

I did a backwards search based on repeals mentioned in the various Road Traffic Acts and it looks like the driving licence was introduced in the Road Traffic Act 1933. Because there was no driving test at the time, it appears that the sole purpose of the licence was so that they could take away the privilege of being allowed to drive based on a conviction for drunk or dangerous driving.

In other words, they had to give you something in order to take it from you.

http://www.irishstatutebook.ie/eli/1933/act/11/enacted/en/html

Your way off coylemj, the requirement for a licence was introduced here (and in the UK on the same day) on January 1 1904 under S3 of the Motor Car Act 1903.

coylemj

GM228 wrote: »

Your way off coylemj, the requirement for a licence was introduced here (and in the UK on the same day) on January 1 1904 under S3 of the Motor Car Act 1903.

Doh! Missed that - the Motor Car Act 1903 was repealed ('the whole act' i.e. in it's entirety) by the 1933 act. I though the 1933 act was the end of the chain of repeals, it wasn't.

Happy to have the record set straight.

Esel

mikeecho wrote: »

Almost 40 years ago... old news.

Surely you mean history - like in the thread title?

GM228

coylemj wrote: »

Doh! Missed that - the Motor Car Act 1903 was repealed ('the whole act' i.e. in it's entirety) by the 1933 act. I though the 1933 act was the end of the chain of repeals, it wasn't.

Happy to have the record set straight.

The repeal chain never ends, they go as far back as 1861 to the very first traffic laws.

muffler

GM228 wrote: »

The repeal chain never ends, they go as far back as 1861 to the very first traffic laws.

Back in the day when horses had a lantern hung on each ear for indicators and a tail for rear wiper

knipex

muffler wrote: »

Back in the day when horses had a lantern hung on each ear for indicators and a tail for rear wiper

The Locomotives on Highways Act 1861
The Locomotive Act 1865
Highways and Locomotives (Amendment) Act 1878

were introduced as a result of lobbying by the railway groups and those with a vested interest in horse transport and introduced draconian rules and regs,

2mph speed limits in urban area and 4mph in rural areas

Minimum of 3 crew members on board.

The red flag where someone had to walk in front of a "car" waving a red flag.

The 1896 act introduced a light vehicle (under three tonnes) which eliminated alot of this and introduced a 14mph speed limit.


The 1903 act introduced driving licenses, vehicle registration with local authorities, displaying reg plates, the offense of reckless driving, increased the speed limit to 25mph, allowed local authorities to introduce lower speed limits in areas and brought in minimum requirement are brakes.

it essentially set the scene for modern legislation..

I love Sean nos

porsche boy wrote: »

I have been told by father, uncles etc the they all just bought a licence, that would have been in the 50's. I believe the test itself was introduced in the early 60's.

My Ma and her siblings all bought their licences before the test was introduced. It cost £1.

manfield

thanks for all the help. will be able to amaze my kids with my vast (other peoples) knowledge

jca

CiniO wrote: »

Around 2008.
Before that most people just drove on provisional...

I've a full licence since 1989, and yes I did a test to get it.

feargale

manfield wrote: »

this is a good one. one of my kids asked me when was the Driving licence introduced in Ireland. had a look but cant find out. now i know in England it was introduced around the 1930's but Ireland??? anyone know the answer:)

The answer to your question is Motor Car Act 1903.