The modification of the regulations affecting learner drivers announced yesterday by Minister for Transport Noel Dempsey means that the deadline for second provisional licence holders being allowed to drive unaccompanied has been postponed until June 30th.
However, the existing law requiring learners to be accompanied will continue to apply not only to first time provisional licence holders but also to those on their third and subsequent licences.
People in this category are legally obliged to be accompanied by a driver who has a full licence for two years or more.
There are 425,225 people with provisional licences.
This breaks down as follows: first 209,253; second 121,871; third 31,792; fourth 25,076; fifth or subsequent 37,233.
Mr Dempsey pledged yesterday that the waiting time for driving tests would be cut significantly by next June so that all those now on provisional licences would have time to apply for and do their a test by then.
He also said that from next June people would be able to get a test on demand - which he defined as within 10 weeks of applying for it.
The Minister also announced that from tomorrow all new applicants for driving licences would be issued with a learner permit.
The rules applying to a new applicant's learner permit will stipulate that:
• the holder must be accompanied by a driver who has had a full licence for at least two years;
• the holder must have the permit for a minimum of six months of supervised practice before applying for a test;
• by June 30th, 2008, all provisional licence holders must be accompanied by a fully licenced driver of at least two years experience.
"This move is made in response to two clear messages from the public," the Minister said yesterday.
"Firstly, there is strong support for the proposed reforms to improve road safety. Secondly, there is a strong desire for a reasonable lead-in time to enable people to prepare for and take their test or to make alternative arrangements.
"For these reasons I have decided to defer implementation of the requirement for second provisional licence holders to be accompanied until June 30th, 2008.
"I now encourage all provisional licence holders, who have not already done so, to prepare and apply for a driving test," Mr Dempsey continued.
"The Government has already committed itself to providing the necessary finance to the Road Safety Authority to ensure that all 122,000 applicants currently on the waiting list will have been tested by early March 2008.
"This will have eliminated the current backlog as promised. By the end of June 2008 all applicants for a driving test will be able to get a test on demand - within 10 weeks," the Minister added.
