What is going on when a TD thinks it's a good idea to let learner drivers drive unaccompanied? I assume this is just populist rubbish for his supporters and won't go anywhere, but still it's maddening to see people say this in the national parliament...
How stupid.
Not that outlandish when you consider that accompanied driving has only been a thing for the last seven years.
I'd say most contributors to this forum were able to drive unaccompanied whilst on a provisional license.
let’s be realistic, 99% of learner drivers are probably driving unaccompanied. It’s not being policed, the resources aren’t there , it’s a rule that’s not practical. In fairness to the TD in question his suggestion of speed restrictors on L cars is a good one, and one that makes actual sense
This is nothing but a smokescreen to secure local votes because the waiting times to do the driving test are at an all-time high and the Government are doing nothing to reduce it.
It was only on the second provisional.
More of an example of a traffic law not being enforced.
As for the whataboutery - I know someone bought their license back in the day before tests were a thing or in 1979 it was known an amnesty was in the offing so lots of people applied for licenses they wouldn't have otherwise applied for since they knew there wouldn't be a test.
Doesn't make it right though, does it?
The 'amnesty' was only for those who were on their third or subsequent provisional, so you couldn't just run out and get one to get the full license.
It wasn't whataboutery, more about ladder pulling. People getting all indignant that this could be re-introduced when they were (shock horror) able to drive solo on their second provisional.
Who said anything about right or wrong?
And yet I know someone who got a truck driving license that way.
And I'm telling you how it was. I missed out because I was only on my second. A close friend got his.
Speed restricted how? Can't seem to find anything that states what the proposal actually is, sounds unworkable and dangerous regardless.
How about an ebike to get around instead of a car driven illegally? Far more practical for 99% of the normal sub 4km car journey and no laws broken.
Did you read the article? An ebike wouldn't be realistic.
And the problem is there's now a 27 week wait for the driving test. Completely unacceptable.
I am sure this is just a sound bite in response to driving test waiting times. Got extremely lucky myself with a cancellation but I wonder if the government would reconsider the law as a way to save on Garda resources considering the waiting lists are shocking.
Mind you it’s the same for all waiting lists in Ireland. They just seem to endlessly grow.
You do know most people live outside Dublin with no bus service where getting to work can and does involve trips if 30km +.not really ebike territory.
The solution to a growing waiting list isn't to allow people to drive without sitting their test first.
Even if the waiting list grows to 12 months or more. The solution isn't to just allow people to drive. Get more testers, open new centres. That's the fix.
Yes, I read it. Says nothing about what speed limitation would be required, nor really anything of substance on the issue as a whole apart from some random outlier cases.
How many of these supposed college students really live more than 20-30km away from their college or from a transport option to get them there? Cycling, especially on an ebike up to 20km is easily doable as either part or all of the journey.
Or, heaven forbid, actually thinking about how things will work before committing to them…
Yes there is an issue with overly long wait times and this should be addressed, but driving illegally in the mean time is not the solution.
why do we allow private companies take on public jobs and make complete messes? Are there no penalties or incentives. Both driving testing and the nct system are completely broken. Next available bookable nct test in cork is august!
In fairness, it wouldn’t be driving illegally if they made it legal.
Just saying.
The TD's suggestion is not intended to be a solution to the driving test waiting list. If learner drivers can drive unaccompanied then the length of the driving test waiting time would be more palatable and less vocal with joe public. It would kick the can a bit further down the road.
Very Dublin-centric response. Not worth engaging with.
cycling would only be a solution for those distances if there were adequate shower/changing facilities and secure bike parking at the end destination - things which i doubt most colleges (and businesses for that matter) have even one of, let alone both
FF abolished learners on their 2nd provisional from driving unaccompanied in 2008. A fantastic ploy to distract the public from the heat generated from Shannon Airport losing the Heathrow route at the time
The irony of a FF TD from Clare calling for it's reintroduction should not be lost here
Having learners subject to a lower speed is effectively making everyone else get stuck behind them and promotes risky overtakes on the very rural roads this guy is talking about.
Put more testers in place. Open more centres. Extend the hours that tests take place.
All seem like logical even workable solutions so why they're not implemented is anyone's guess.
Allowing learner drivers to drive unaccompanied is a step back.
They were 'ignored' initially because parents whinged about the inconvenience of accompanying junior on the road.
When I did my test 20+ years ago the waiting list was around 9 months. People applied for driving test shortly after receiving their provisional to get on the waiting list. 10 weeks isn’t the end of the world. A small percentage would only have things change that would require a license asap. No planning for the future that maybe I’ll need a license in 6-12 months so I’ll start the process now instead of actually I need it tomorrow
When you did your test 20+ years ago, you could drive unaccompanied, so the waiting list wasn't really an issue, was it?
And the current waiting list is 27 weeks.
Galway, Tallaght and Navan are over 40 weeks wait lists, so if you apply now you're looking at February or March 2026
Is there still a big problem with test no shows?
There seems to be a few. Enough that somebody has developed an app that will scan for cancellations and alert you. Costs €100 for each cancellation you accept.
They do have a speed limit for learners and newly qualified drivers in Northern Ireland, 45 mph.
https://www.sterling-insurance.co.uk/northern-ireland/blog/learner-drivers/l-and-r-plates/
There's talk of removing the limit for R plates.
Memory is a bit foggy so bear with me …
Got my first driving licence at 17 ( birthday present from folks with a few lessons from an instructor)
Went to collage shortly after that and didnt sit behind a wheel for another 4 or 5 years.
Got the second provisional and I was entitled to drive unnacompanied. Waiting test times in Wicklow where I lived at the time were 13 months plus. I got a few informal lessons from my brother in law and drove the lenght and breath of the country on the provisional ( not saying that was right or wrong - but that was the way it was back then, the whole coutry was at it) Only got more lessons from an instructor on the lead up to the test. Subsequently failed on 2 many minors and drove home.
Fairly sure i had to get a third provsional at that point ( and seem to recall you could only apply if you had taken a test)
Waited another year for a test ( driving unaccompanied ) and then passed.
The difference now is that learners at least are going through a structured system of theory and practical instructions.
They are in my opinion far more suited to drive unaccompanied then I was in hindsight.
If you are eligible to take a test after 12 lessons but cant through no fault of your own , should you be punished for it?
And as I have said / asked before - does a licenced driver sitting beside a learner make them magically safer on the road?
