Older motorists who have let their driving licences lapse should be given special licences which would confine them to rural roads, a Fine Gael TD has said.
Cork deputy, Mr Gerard Murphy, said thousands of older people were either driving on expired licences or had continually driven on provisional licences.
They would have to sit a theory test to get a new full licence, but the prospect of sitting the test on computer "would horrify them", he said.
Being put off the road would have devastating consequences for rural dwellers, Mr Murphy said. These were people who were "traditionally quite law-abiding, going about their business, doing no harm to anybody".
"Perhaps the solution lies in the introduction of something like a local licence, where people would only be permitted to drive on county roads," he said. Most rural dwellers never needed to travel on a primary route, he said, but if these people were caught on primary roads, then they should be penalised.
"A licence like this should require a test, but not as demanding as the test that allows drivers in cities and on motorways."
Mr Murphy said he knew many drivers who would not travel into Mallow because they were afraid to negotiate a roundabout.
"There must be some way of accommodating these people, while at the same time introducing the overall principle which is desirable and fully achievable over time."
