Those who accompany learners to face drink drive laws

DRIVING LICENCE holders who accompany learner drivers are to be subject to drink driving restrictions and mandatory alcohol testing, under plans being drawn up by the Department of Transport.

From midnight last night, all "learner-permit" holders must be accompanied by qualified drivers, in a move that directly affects some 92,000 holders of second learner permits, formerly known as provisional licences.

The change is just one of a series of measures the Road Safety Authority and the Department of Transport are pursuing that require potential motorists to gradually progress to a full driving licence.

Other measures include:

• a requirement that the accompanying driver must carry a driving licence;

• mandatory tuition for learner drivers;

• a reduced speed limit for learner drivers;

• liability for greater penalty points for learner drivers and those qualified less than two years;

• a requirement that long-term learner drivers must take the driving test;

• the introduction of restrictions on the engine capacity of cars that may be driven by learner drivers.

The full list of 17 measures is contained in Appendix III of the Government's Road Safety Strategy. The strategy also indicates a target date for the introduction of necessary legislation by autumn 2008.

A spokeswoman for the Department of Transport said legislation for the range of measures was being drafted but was not yet ready to go to Cabinet for approval. She said the full content of the legislation would not be made known until the draft Bill was published.

While there are no current restrictions on the alcohol consumption of accompanying drivers, Conor Faughnan of the AA said the "clear gist" of the new regulation was that the learner was in a position to get a lesson at all times when behind the wheel.

"That can't happen if the accompanying driver is not sober," he said.

Speaking to The Irish Times yesterday, the chief executive of the Road Safety Authority, Noel Brett, said he believed it was now time "to move on and implement" a full graduated driver licensing system.

The Road Safety Authority is to publish a leaflet offering advice to accompanying drivers.