The closure of a loophole that allowed people to drive indefinitely on a learner permit without taking a driving test is welcome. But the fact that it took twelve years to make the change says much about the Janus-faced politics that bedevils road safety policy. This, too, may be running out of road.
The new regulations, which came into effect on Sunday, mandate that learner drivers will now have to sit a test once they have held two permits, which in effect imposes a four-year time limit after which a test must be taken.
Up until now, permits could be renewed provided a test was booked, but the test did not actually have to be taken. This facilitated a small but significant group who for various reasons appear to not want to take the test. According to the Road Safety Authority (RSA), 11,000 people are on 11 or more permits, with a “handful” driving for at least 40 years on learner permits. There are roughly 350,000 permits issued.
Announcing the changes this time last year, the Minister of State for Transport Seán Canney described them as “an important development in advancing road safety”. That was as true then as it was 13 years ago when the (RSA) first called for the changes. The RSA said the practice was undermining the Graduated Driver Licensing (GDL) system which was a central plank of its road safety strategy.
RM Block
The Government’s foot-dragging on the issue is attributed to concern over the disproportionate impact the measure would have on people living in rural areas who are dependent on cars to access work and services. That will remain the case, and it is to Canney’s credit that he has finally got the change over the line. This may in part reflect lower public tolerance for those who endanger others on the road.
Canney has done his part, but the success or failure of the change will come down to the ability and willingness of the Garda to enforce the new rules. That will require a combination of resources and clear direction from the top, both of which have often been lacking in the area of road safety.
