I was dismayed by the new changes to legislation regarding the provisional license in Ireland.
Over 400,000 drivers hold these. Waiting times are extremely long (if not improved by a very small, insignificant amount).
In USA for example, you can sit your test by making an appointment the day before, sometimes by taking a ticket and waiting for an hour or two, on the same day. But in Ireland you have to wait from 18-44 weeks?
I believe that these new regulaltions would indeed be fair and just if it were the case that a waiting time of 3 maybe 4 weeks was the norm. Until then, I see this new strategy as a waste of time, and will be considered by most as unjust and unfair. It is not practical until test waiting times are reduced as suggested above.
Fix the testing system, THEN change the laws so it can actually work properly.
Also, I believe driving should be part of the school curriculum so when you’re 17 or 18 you can get sit your test at school and pass your test there. No more back log.
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It's galling for provisional drivers, but I think this is a good idea in principle. Perhaps it should only be applied to licenses issued after the law takes effect, in fairness to existing license holders. An acquaintance was killed by a provisional driver, driving on the wrong side of the road during her first week in a car. It's insane that anyone can get a provisional license and drive unsupervised. The test system badly needs an overhaul, and I don't have confidence that it will improve soon. But safety is the bottom line in this issue.
I'd say the guards will be kept well busy themselves!
Oh look another unaccompanied L driver… – STOP! There ye go, here's yer fine. Now.. where were we. Oh look another unaccompanied L driver… – STOP! There ye go, here's yer fine. Now.. where were we. Oh look another unaccompanied L driver… – STOP! There ye go, here's yer fine. Now.. where were we. Oh look another unaccompanied L driver… – STOP! There ye go, here's yer fine. Now.. where were we. Oh look another unaccompanied L driver… – STOP! There ye go, here's yer fine. Now.. where were we.
They won't get much done with that carry on! Or it'll take a while to catch all those unaccompanied L drivers.
As of today it's being put back to the new year. That's the least they could do. To announce yesterday something they want to implement less than a week later would only exemplify the kind eejitery trying to get this country out of one crisis into another. Madness. Or just stupidity? Answers on a postcard.
I am with both of you. It's insane. I don't know what is going to happen now though. I know of 1 person in particular who because of nervousness has failed 10 tests. She is a wonderful driver & has been driving for over 40 years! It's just the tests that she keeps failing. She is not going to be able to stop driving now so what are they going to do with her. She's in her 60s!
What I can see happening is learners just taking off the "L" plates! Simple as that!
Oh come on, how many times have we read the phrase 'something drastic needs to be done about…' on this website. Well the wish came true. We have had 10 years of faffing about and now a decision has been made to 'amputate the leg to save the person'. The leg knew it was gangrenous, it could have taken an antibiotic, but chose to fester, and now Gaybos surgeon’s knife has cut this rot from the body of society. Good riddance.
The bottom line is all these provisional drivers are currently breaking the law. Regarding the waiting time for a test, that’s a valid argument, BUT ONLY IF YOU ARE WAITING FOR A TEST. Any provisional driver who is NOT waiting for a test has no grounds for complaint.
Having said that, if the guards can’t enforce the current dirving laws, I can’t see how they will suddenly be able to enforce this one too.
I've commented in another thread before, that a work colleague takes off her L plates whenever she drives up the motorway up to Dublin.
She'll get a stiffer penalty (in theory at least) if she gets caught at an unexpected routine checkpoint. Obviously not on the motorway LOL. Still, no L plates showing and driving respectfully and attentively, how will the guards know. And will the penalty be the same for showing L plates but driving unaccompanied, or not showing L plates.
As for biddy in her 60's, shame that. But I'll never get that industry qualification on my CV if I keep failing the exam, even I have the world of experience and can work it blindfolded "honest". I have to pass that exam and demonstrate to them I am competent according to their guidelines.
I, like everyone else, had a sweaty arse going into the testing centre on both accounts (passed 2nd go) but had to keep my wits about me and not let the anxiety get the better of me.
The testers probably agree that she's making too many faults to be considered competent. It wouldn't surprise me if she was stuck on the various observation faults (as I think most people get caught on observation most commonly). With practice bad habits can be fixed but observation is one habit you can't have too much of; at the very least it facilitates anticipation and awareness of your driving environment. Whilst keeping an eye on your texting
I am a foreigner I have been driving more than 25 years in my home with license C. I did 4 riving test and I think if i want to bass the triving test I have to chang my skin colour first. No bod control the drive tester
yes in prencipal its a good idea, but they didnt think this through at all:
well I passed my test 4 years ago, im glad, but besides that, I dont like this new law, I understand those on their first provisional needing someone with them, as they have no experience at all, but those on their 2nd usually have some experience, and I believe it to be important that people on their 2nd to gain experience without people being with them, now that is not feesable in some cases as some people only start driving on their 2nd. and its not always possible to find someone experienced to drive with you all of the time!!! I know its not possible to do, but it would be more in their line to asses people on their individual experience and then tell them if they need someone with them or not, like do a pretest or something!
Whats worse is, I realise they are putting this law into effect so that those on their 2nd will hurry to do their test, and then we all will have full licences, but HOW?? considering it can take anything from 8 months to over a year at the moment to be calles, all I can see this law doing is creating even more of a backlog!!!Im wondering if what the transport minister did back in the 70’s would be a good idea to clear the back log, remember when he gave a one time oppertunity for all those on 2nd privisionals to just walk in and get a full licence. It wouldnt mean that all those people are fantastic drivers, but atlease the backlog would dissapier, it was acceptible in the 70’s and we survived it, whould it not owrk just as well now??also I can see those on their 2nd provisional, taking off their L plates, test done or not, to avoid being pulled. then we have a bigger problem!!! I know people who said they would do this, so it will happen!
What they're doing now is to scare as many people into taking the test and I'm sure testers have been told to pass as many drivers as possible. I've been hearing rumors of 90% pass rates, rather than the usual below 50%.
The government has said the current waiting time will be slashed even though 300 people per hour are applying to take the test. To think that they can test more people in a shorter time with the same resources applying the same standards is mathematically impossible and illogical.
In other words: Test and pass as many people in as short a time as possible. this is nothing more than a second amnesty, disguised as a proper pass.
So, if you want a licence for anything, now's the time!
well its postponed now till June, untill Dempsey looks at it further!! would he not have looked and thought about it b4 putting it out there?? the incompetance of it all astounds me!
i'd never thought in a million years i'd be saying this but L-drivers are a soft target. at least they stick to the rules, ( until they pass their test) as the old saying goes. you drive like miss daisy then fuck the rule book out the window.
maybe niall can do another survey . who are safer L-drivers or full license holders.
the reason i'm posting today is because of another near miss. coming over santry fly over from beaumont going to omni. i'm in the nearside lane ( left lane) some fucking gobshite comes tearing down on my right going straight. i caught up with him and let a triad of abuse at him, asking if he saw the markings. he saw the green light alright but what he failed to see and this is one of the most common things i've seen with lousy drivers ,is that THEY DONT SEE THE MARKINGS ON THE ROAD. this guy was going straight in a right hand turn only lane.
you might say it's road rage on my behalf, fair enough.
my point is if your going to be a right arse hole dont take me with you.
To tell you frankly,i dont think it would be fair and just to all Learner drivers.Because not all learner driver are stubborn,though some.But we have seen some of the full holder drivers license people are the worst drivers compared to the learner ones.But as far as i know a lot of learner drivers knows how to drive because back at home we drive for a longer years now.And
Do you think if we passed the full licensed exam we the the learners driver would be a good driver???i dont think so,because that is a form of self discipline and patience..Mostly here in ireland it is the youngters who commited most of the accidents,and not all learners.
Melanie, every single learner driver I see on the M1 is breaking the rules.
The issue with L drivers most certainly needs to be addressed, however the options and penalties that have recently been presented are incomplete to say the least. The reason for this….. The L driver scare was only put onto the news to take the heat off the main story which was Bertie's massive pay rise! It is a slow time for journalism so Bertie's spin team knew that this issue would cause enough of a furore so as to distract from this salary increase. That is why it was so quickly retracted again, it was never really an issue for them, they just made it up, threw it in to shadow a real media story, wait until people no longer cared what Bertie earns and now they find that they must iron out the details. Unfortunately, it was never about the L drivers, but it is a subject which at last can now be tackled.
can you apply for an irish driving license even if you are from Northern Ireland
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