Learner drivers accompaniment.

Charlie6991 wrote: »

I’m insured as a learner driver on my mums car but can my brother who has a full licence of 8 years accompany me if he isn’t insured on the car?

I believe yes. As long as they have a full licence over two years they're free to join you. I've had uncles drive with me when I was a learner who weren't insured on my Mam's car.

If you are on the Aviva accompanied driver scheme, the accompanying driver must be the policyholder or named driver on that policy. Check it out.

whomitconcerns wrote: »

But how does that work. Is the idea not that the fully licenced driver can take over, if there's a problem? They couldn't do this if they weren't insured

What do you mean by 'take over'? This is an ordinary car with no dual control.

The rule about being accompanied is about supervision, not grabbing the wheel if something happens.

If the legislation is interpreted the same way here as in the UK then no.

The accompanying driver must be able to assume driving responsibility of the vehicles. Therefor they must

- Have a Full Licence for the required number of years
- Be of the minimum required age
- Be insured
- Be free from the influence of drugs/alcohol
- Be physically able to drive. (not in a cast or whatever)

biko wrote: »

By "take over" I think he mean to replace the driver if there is a problem and the full licensed person must drive home.

Is that a legal requirement here, i.e. that the accompanying driver must be in a position to legally drive the car?

coylemj wrote: »

No, it is not. The accompanying driver must hold a full licence covering that class of vehicle (I think for at least two years) but is not obliged to be insured to drive the car.

So if the learner becomes incapacitated for any reason, it's possible that they could be stranded because the accompanying driver is not able to legally drive the car for want of insurance.

As I thought. Thanks.

Tomtom364 wrote: »

The accompanying driver must be able to assume driving responsibility of the vehicles. Therefor they must

- Have a Full Licence for the required number of years
- Be of the minimum required age
- Be insured
- Be free from the influence of drugs/alcohol
- Be physically able to drive. (not in a cast or whatever)

'Assume driving responsibility' - you mean be able to legally drive the car? There is no such requirement in Irish law.

Only the driver requires insurance cover. Where a Garda comes across a learner driver with someone sitting in the front seat, the Garda can demand the production of a driving licence from that person (the passenger) but there is no scenario where anyone other than the driver or the owner of the car can be asked to produce a certificate of insurance.

The only reason this situation is ever mentioned is that a lot of motor policies state as a condition that any learner covered to drive the car must be accompanied by a person holding a full licence. No policy that I have ever read states that such person is also required to be insured to drive the car.

And if the person accompanying a learner driver required insurance cover, that would surely be mentioned (it's not) on the RSA webage covering the requirements for people driving on a learner permit....

Driving alone:

You can’t be alone in the vehicle when driving, regardless of how long you have been driving and how many learner permits you have held. And the person who’s with you must hold a full driving licence for the category of vehicle you are driving for a continuous period of 2 years.

http://www.rsa.ie/en/RSA/Learner-Drivers/Safe-Driving1/Safety-for-Permit-Holders/

seagull wrote: »

I think I read recently that the accompanying driver doesn't even need to be sober in Ireland. Is that correct?

No, it isn't. The same DUI rules apply to an accompanying driver as to an actual driver.