learner driver changes and new rule for test passers

robbie_998 · 02-09-2010 11:08AM #1

http://www.rte.ie/news/2010/0901/driving.html

Wednesday, 1 September 2010 17:33
The way learner drivers are trained, tested and licensed is being overhauled as part of new measures announced today.

New learner drivers will now have to take 12 hours of compulsory driving lessons and produce a signed log, showing that they underwent supervised practise, before they can sit their driving test.

'R' plates for newly qualified drivers, increased penalty points and stricter sentences for learner and novice drivers who break road traffic laws were also announced.

Advertisement
The Road Safety Authority has announced a number of changes to the learner driver system.

Driving lessons have always been a voluntary undertaking, but now they are to be made compulsory.

From 4 April 2011, new learner drivers will have to undergo 12 hours of compulsory lessons.

The compulsory lessons will have to be taken with an approved driving instructor and learners will not be able to sit their test until they can prove they have undergone this training.

Those applying for a motorbike license will have to do 16 hours and this rule comes into force on 6 December this year.

A signed log showing the driver underwent around 20 hours of supervised training will also have to be produced.

Some penalty points for learners will be doubled and they will also have a lower drink-driving limit.

The theory test and driving test will be overhauled and new sentencing options are also being developed.

Newly qualified drivers will also be subject to the new measures.

For the first two years after they pass their test, they will have to display a restricted 'R' plate and undergo a hazard perception test.

The new rules only apply to those who get their first license after these measures come into force.

Safety the key - Dempsey

Speaking about today's announcement, Transport Minister Noel Dempsey said what he and the Road Safety Authority was trying to do was make sure that when young people get cars they are safe and that other road users are safe.

Mr Dempsey said some horrific incidents had highlighted the need for increased vigilance.

He said the Government was trying to make sure that whoever goes on the road has some training, experience and skill and that they are not a danger to themselves and to others.

A young person between 17 and 24 getting into a car is five times more likely to die than a person older than that, he said.

He acknowledged that parts of the new measures would be difficult to police, but added that he believed that if you asked parents of young people who have been killed on the roads whether they thought it was a good idea, they would say yes.

Parents do have to take some responsibility for younger people, he added.

new "R" Sticker for new fully licensed drivers and another test.... hhmmmm

Mr. Gruff · 02-09-2010 12:16PM

robbie_998 wrote: »

From 4 April 2011, new learner drivers will have to undergo 12 hours of compulsory lessons.

Does this mean that anyone with a learner's permit at the moment won't be affected by this or is it just wishful thinking?

munchkin_utd · 02-09-2010 01:09PM

anyone with a permit now is not affected (according to the papers).

EDIT - it even says it in the quoted article "The new rules only apply to those who get their first license after these measures come into force."

by first licence they mean first learners permit

UpTheSlashers · 02-09-2010 02:10PM

I agree with stricter punishments for Novice drivers but whats the point in the "R" plates?

MascotDec85 · 02-09-2010 02:36PM

UpTheSlashers wrote: »

I agree with stricter punishments for Novice drivers but whats the point in the "R" plates?

For the same reason L Plates are shown just now. To highlight to other road users that you the driver is newly qualified or inexperienced and hopefully allow them some leeway.

ec18 · 02-09-2010 02:39PM

MascotDec85 wrote: »

For the same reason L Plates are shown just now. To highlight to other road users that you the driver is newly qualified or inexperienced and hopefully allow them some leeway.

to play devils advocate

or make them more of a target for on road bullying :P

UpTheSlashers · 02-09-2010 02:44PM

MascotDec85 wrote: »

For the same reason L Plates are shown just now. To highlight to other road users that you the driver is newly qualified or inexperienced and hopefully allow them some leeway.

Well I just dont think its necessary. In my opinion "L" plates are necessary because the driver is learning and so that other drivers might understand mistakes or slow progression. If your competent enough to pass the test I dont think "R" plates are necessary.

MascotDec85 · 02-09-2010 02:46PM

ec18 wrote: »

to play devils advocate

or make them more of a target for on road bullying :P

UpTheSlashers wrote: »

Well I just dont think its necessary. In my opinion "L" plates are necessary because the driver is learning and so that other drivers might understand mistakes or slow progression. If your competent enough to pass the test I dont think "R" plates are necessary.

Other countries disagree with your opinion and have used this system successfully for a number of years

UpTheSlashers · 02-09-2010 03:05PM

Fair enough.

jos22 · 02-09-2010 05:07PM

love they way they always punish the learner drivers. while ignoring all the bad drivers on full licences. I see far more of them speeding, overtaking dangerously, not bother singling and running red lights at pedestrian crossings etc but no they not a problem on the road it just the 18-24 year old group that are.

MascotDec85 · 02-09-2010 06:04PM

jos22 wrote: »

love they way they always punish the learner drivers. while ignoring all the bad drivers on full licences. I see far more of them speeding, overtaking dangerously, not bother singling and running red lights at pedestrian crossings etc but no they not a problem on the road it just the 18-24 year old group that are.

tbh your point is an issue for the Gardai, not the RSA.

What the RSA are trying to do is ensure the drivers of the future are better trained than they have ever been in this country. It is a long term strategy aimed at improving driver standards.

Learners in 4 or 5 years time will just accept that these are the rules and get on with it. I do have sympathy for the learners who are/will be caught in the time of transition but unfortunately it has to start somewhere.

CrazyChick18 · 04-09-2010 12:09AM

I think its very unfair that they keep bringing out new rules for learner drivers, what they would want to do is retest all people that are on the roads for ages because if you ask me that half the problem aswell not just all young people.

Nasty_Girl · 04-09-2010 05:44PM

These "rules" are all well and good providing people actually stick to them.

The problem in Ireland is people don't obey the rules that are already there, like not drink driving, wearing your seatbelt, sticking to the speed limit, not driving unaccompanied while on a learner's permit.

Are these reckless types really going to get their parents to supervise them, are they really going to stick R plates on their car?

No of course not.

Penalty points and sentencing might help, provided they are actually used.

Robxxx7 · 04-09-2010 09:03PM

The issue with enforcement of the rules is down to the Gardai and as we will know as history tells us ... they'll do feck all to enforce any of this

MascotDec85 · 04-09-2010 10:00PM

Robxxx7 wrote: »

The issue with enforcement of the rules is down to the Gardai and as we will know as history tells us ... they'll do feck all to enforce any of this

No ADI will sign off 12 lessons unless the pupil has taken 12 lessons. I agree with your other points, they must be enforced properly or those parts will be futile

loobylou · 05-09-2010 09:49AM

MascotDec85 wrote: »

No ADI will sign off 12 lessons unless the pupil has taken 12 lessons. I agree with your other points, they must be enforced properly or those parts will be futile

Agreed. Indeed there would be serious tax implications for the ADI were he to do otherwise. It will be assumed by revenue that he derived income from the 12 lessons and will be assessed for tax accordingly.

booksale · 05-09-2010 02:12PM

Indeed, a lot of countries are doing the same. UK has the R sign policy and the R drivers are limited to drive in a certain speed regardless of the speed limit of the roads.

And in Hong Kong, new drivers are required to put on the P as well.

Ineed, I like the idea of have the R plate on for newly passed drivers.

I was always thinking to put on a sign something like 'Watch out! I have just passed my test!' after I pass my driving test (I havent done it yet).

I dont think I've got bullied on the road because of the L sign. People seem to be more lenient than more aggressive to L drivers, unless they are stupid and want to kill themselves. I hate though some drivers are driving too close behind me! But a lot more would stay a bit farther from me... hehhe which is good.

Yes, I have to say, while I was driving, I always found drivers speeding! And this gives me pressure to speed up to the speed that I may not be comfortable with. For a few times, my friends who sat beside me always asked me to speed up because I was blocking the traffic but I was doing the speed limit already! Well, sometimes I am indeed doing a bit lower than the speed limit but I feel not safe to go quicker so I slow down a bit, but not in an unbearable slow motion!!:mad: I think full licensed drivers need re-education as well.

Max Power1 · 05-09-2010 02:22PM

booksale wrote: »

Indeed, a lot of countries are doing the same. UK has the R sign policy and the R drivers are limited to drive in a certain speed regardless of the speed limit of the roads.

And in Hong Kong, new drivers are required to put on the P as well.

Ineed, I like the idea of have the R plate on for newly passed drivers.

I was always thinking to put on a sign something like 'Watch out! I have just passed my test!' after I pass my driving test (I havent done it yet).

I dont think I've got bullied on the road because of the L sign. People seem to be more lenient than more aggressive to L drivers, unless they are stupid and want to kill themselves. I hate though some drivers are driving too close behind me! But a lot more would stay a bit farther from me... hehhe which is good.

Yes, I have to say, while I was driving, I always found drivers speeding! And this gives me pressure to speed up to the speed that I may not be comfortable with. For a few times, my friends who sat beside me always asked me to speed up because I was blocking the traffic but I was doing the speed limit already! Well, sometimes I am indeed doing a bit lower than the speed limit but I feel not safe to go quicker so I slow down a bit, but not in an unbearable slow motion!!:mad: I think full licensed drivers need re-education as well.

If you are incapable of driving at the speed limit you should not be on the road.

Slow moving drivers (whether gaybo and the RSA care to admit it or not) are as much of a hazard on the roads as people who speed.

booksale · 05-09-2010 04:32PM

Max Power1 wrote: »

If you are incapable of driving at the speed limit you should not be on the road.

Slow moving drivers (whether gaybo and the RSA care to admit it or not) are as much of a hazard on the roads as people who speed.

I know what you mean by Progression. But this is not what I was talking about.

My friends commented me blocking the traffic while I was already doing the speed limit. It's others who were speeding. Please read my post again. THANKS.

And in some countries, newly passed drivers are not allowed to do up to the speed limit. They are required to do a bit slower than the speed limit.

Cheers!

Max Power1 · 05-09-2010 04:43PM

booksale wrote: »

I know what you mean by Progression. But this is not what I was talking about.

My friends commented me blocking the traffic while I was already doing the speed limit. It's others who were speeding. Please read my post again. THANKS.

And in some countries, newly passed drivers are not allowed to do up to the speed limit. They are required to do a bit slower than the speed limit.

Cheers!

Read the part of your previous post I had highlighted, which is different to what you just stated.

zielarz · 05-09-2010 05:09PM

Silly decision. It will only increase the cost of getting a driving license..

Max Power1 · 05-09-2010 05:14PM

zielarz wrote: »

Silly decision. It will only increase the cost of getting a driving license..

+1

In theory it is a good idea, however as we are in ireland, it will not be enforced, (especially the R stickers) and will not work. We cannot enforce our current laws, perhaps we should enforce the laws on unnaccompanied learners before bringing in more regulations!

booksale · 05-09-2010 05:18PM

To Max Power:

booksale wrote: »

For a few times, my friends who sat beside me always asked me to speed up because I was blocking the traffic but I was doing the speed limit already!

Cheers!

spurious · 05-09-2010 05:25PM

It really doesn't matter what new rules and easily fake-able nonsense about log-books they bring in, NOBODY ENFORCES THE EXISTING RULES, so it will make no difference.

The learner system in Ireland is an awful joke.

Permabear · 05-09-2010 06:05PM

This post has been deleted.

challengemaster · 06-09-2010 02:09AM

Japans way of doing things is much, much better.

This is the equivilant of R plates, displayed for 1 year

And this is required to be displayed by the elderly

They also have a graded test - Something like bronze/silver/gold and your insurance is dependant on this then.

Max Power1 · 06-09-2010 07:49AM

booksale wrote: »

Well, sometimes I am indeed doing a bit lower than the speed limit but I feel not safe to go quicker so I slow down .

booksale wrote: »

To Max Power:

Cheers!

To booksale.

See your post above.

Booksale meet ignore list, ignore list, meet booksale.

kthxbye

Diddler82 · 06-09-2010 08:15AM

Sounds very like the Australian way of doing things....nothing wrong with it either.

Something I would like to see that they do also is double points on Long weekends...seems to do the trick over here!

loobylou · 06-09-2010 09:50AM

Max Power1 wrote: »

If you are incapable of driving at the speed limit you should not be on the road.

Slow moving drivers (whether gaybo and the RSA care to admit it or not) are as much of a hazard on the roads as people who speed.

This is the learn to drive forum. It is quite obvious that Booksale is a learner driver.
For this reason he will be displaying L plates and other drivers will just have to make an allowance for that fact.
It is not reasonable to expect that L drivers will drive as fast as everybody else. What you do automatically requires conscious thought/planning for a learner and thus needs more time.

Max Power1 · 06-09-2010 10:51AM

loobylou wrote: »

This is the learn to drive forum. It is quite obvious that Booksale is a learner driver.
For this reason he will be displaying L plates and other drivers will just have to make an allowance for that fact.
It is not reasonable to expect that L drivers will drive as fast as everybody else. What you do automatically requires conscious thought/planning for a learner and thus needs more time.

I only passed my test in june, and only started driving last november. i was never a danger to other road users because I went too slow

loobylou · 06-09-2010 11:25AM

Max Power1 wrote: »

I only passed my test in june, and only started driving last november. i was never a danger to other road users because I went too slow

Nobody here (to my knowledge) suggested you did.
That said I'm sure you did not always drive at the speed limit which is what you are suggesting other learners should be doing.
I know exactly what Booksale meant.
Sometimes I am driving a car with L plates. It seems to enrage some people who (weirdly) seem to think that if they drive very close behind me it will make me go faster.
If I do that journey in a car without L plates, (same driving manner/same speed), people do not tailgate me.
Go figure

learner driver changes and new rule for test passers

Comments