Shane Ross has claimed that young people should be banned from driving at night time.
The former Minister for Transport believes that restricting driving times for younger drivers would lead to a reduction in deaths on the road
Mr Ross said that it was "statistically undeniable" people between the ages of 17 and 30 have more accidents and are "more reckless – young males in particular".
Speaking to Newstalk Breakfast the former Dublin TD added: "What you see here are people dying. We are seeing more people dying with less cars on the roads not more.
"There were less cars on the roads last year and yet in Ireland, our numbers went up.
“This is about saving lives and if we can see that bringing people on gradually - and remember young people have more accidents - we have got to concentrate on the areas that have more accidents.
"It is absolutely statistically undeniable that young people between the ages of 17 and 30 really have more accidents and they are more reckless – young males in particular – and so it is the duty of the minister for transport and others to say OK what can we do to save other people’s lives and their lives?
“I don’t think it is too much to look at and examine the possibility of saying to young people, yes you have got your license, but we are going to bring you on gradually because statistically people of your age have a lot of accidents and kill themselves and kill others,” he concluded."
Appearing on the same show, Kerry TD Michael Healy-Rae blasted the idea from the former Minister.
“We are becoming a nanny state. We are trying to wrap people up in cotton wool.” he said.
