A "restricted licence" for a 12-month period after passing the driving test, compulsory lessons before and after passing the test, and the hiring of at least 30 extra temporary driving testers are among Labour Party proposals to improve road safety.
The proposals, which were launched yesterday, also advocated the inclusion of road safety modules on the transition year programme in schools and reform of the provisional licensing laws to ensure individuals do not book tests as a way of ensuring they can renew their provisional licence.
Among other proposals, which the party claimed are aimed at overhauling "one of the most lax" driving regimes in Europe, are:
A reduction in the average waiting time for the driving test to six weeks within two years.
The party claimed that this would be achieved in part through the hiring of at least 30 temporary testers, at a cost of €3 million, for a two-year period, the introduction of measures to prevent duplicate applications for the test, and the upgrading of IT systems.
The introduction of 12 hours' compulsory driving tuition - eight hours before the test and four hours afterwards.
The commissioning of a major study on the "boy racer" phenomenon to help reduce the death toll on the roads.
The ending of the system of provisional drivers driving unaccompanied for all existing licence-holders within three years.
A "three-stage graduated licence system", including the new "restricted licence" which will apply for 12 months after passing the test.
The introduction of laws requiring instructors to register with the Road Safety Authority and the development of a standard curriculum for driving testers.
Measures to tackle the wide variation in test pass rates. Figures revealed in The Irish Times yesterday showed that last year 23,000 driving-test appointments were "no-shows", which Labour Party transport spokeswoman Róisín Shortall said reflected the fact that "huge numbers" of the 414,000 provisional drivers are avoiding the test.
But learner drivers could also wait up to 60 weeks for a test while insurance bills mounted and job opportunities were lost, she said yesterday.
Also speaking at the launch, Labour Party leader Pat Rabbitte acknowledged there was a risk that some of the measures may not be "vote-winners".
But he said many parents were horrified by the current situation on Irish roads. In this context, there was no point "trotting out" proposals, he said.
Ms Shortall also maintained that the cost of compulsory driving lessons should be met, in the majority of cases, by drivers themselves. She added that she "wouldn't see a problem" with the recruitment of the 30 extra testers on a temporary basis.