Gardai Road Policing units across the country have been cracking down on unaccompanied learner drivers, issuing fixed charge penalty notices and detaining vehicles as a result.
While the backlog for driver tests in Ireland hits over 105,000, many people have completed their EDT lessons and have been waiting for their tests for months.
Since December 2018, under the Graduated Driver Licensing System in Ireland, learner drivers must always be accompanied by a fully qualified driver (not a novice).
If driving alone, you are liable to have their vehicle impounded and if the learner is not the vehicle owner, the owner faces their vehicle being impounded and a fine of up to €1,000.
Among some of the confirmed incidents over the past week include Naas Roads Policing Unit conducting a checkpoint last night on the Main Street in Naas when they came across two unaccompanied Learner drivers with no L-Plates on their cars.
Both of the vehicles were seized by gardai and Fixed Charge Penalty Notices were issued to both drivers.
Earlier that day, the Naas Roads Policing Unit were conducting more checkpoints when they stopped a red Volkswagen Golf. They quickly found that the driver was an unaccompanied Learner with no L-plates.
The car was seized and a Fixed Charge Penalty Notice was issued.
On Wednesday, a Roads Policing Unit was patrolling the south Laois area when they stopped a tractor & trailer after catching the driver on the phone.
After questioning the driver, it was found that they were an unaccompanied Learner, and so, a Fixed Charge Penalty Notice was issued.
Two other learners driving lone were pulled over in Naas last week, and one attempted to give gardai false details about themselves - both resulted in seizures of the vehicles.
Meanwhile, the wait time for driving tests is likely to hit 18 months, with around 105,000 people in line at this point.
John Hehir from coverinaclick.ie recently warned of an 18 month wait time, after Transport Minister Eamon’s Ryan pledged to reduce the backlog to 15 weeks.
Speaking earlier this month, he said; “Combining the total number awaiting a theory test and those awaiting a driving test – 216,000 – means it would take approximately 44 weeks to clear the waiting lists at that rate of weekly testing," Jonathan continued.
“And that’s assuming all those drivers pass their test the first time.
“The pass rate stands at about 55 percent, so almost half those taking the test will have to re-apply, thereby extending the time it would take to fully clear the numbers to approximately 80 weeks.”
