ALMOST HALF of learner drivers are flouting the law by driving unaccompanied, according to the findings of a recent Garda operation.
Operation Learner Driver, carried out on March 1st, March 2nd and April 19th, involved stopping 2,200 learner drivers. It found that 43 per cent were not accompanied by a full licence-holder as required by law.
It also found that 30 per cent of learner drivers were not displaying L-plates. In some cases both offences were committed by the same driver.
Up to March 31st, there were 235,984 learning permit-holders in the State. The majority were on their first licence, but 848 drivers were on their 11th licence or more.
Assistant Garda Commissioner John O’Mahoney said the Garda would continue to focus on learner drivers to ensure greater compliance. “We especially wish to remind all learner permit-holders of their legal obligations with regard to displaying L-plates, being accompanied by qualified drivers at all times and motorway restrictions.
“Driving is a skill which must be practised to improve that skill. As a learner you are doing exactly that – learning to drive.”
Mr O’Mahoney said vehicle owners should also ensure that learner drivers using their cars were obeying the law.
Road Safety Authority chief executive Noel Brett urged parents to ensure that they were not facilitating their children in committing such offences.
“There is also an issue of parental responsibility involved here, and I would appeal directly to the parents of young learner drivers to stop turning a blind eye to what’s going on and do not allow their son or daughter access to a vehicle unless they are accompanied and have L-plates displayed.”
Mr Brett said he was disappointed at the high number of novice drivers detected breaking the law in the Garda operation but he welcomed the enforcement of these laws,
“A learner permit allows an individual to learn to drive under certain conditions until they are ready to take a driving test. These include that they be accompanied by a driver who has held their full licence for more than two years and that L-plates are displayed at all times to alert other drivers to the presence of a novice driver.
“These laws are there to protect this group, who are vulnerable road users by the fact that they are inexperienced drivers.”
Mr Brett also warned learner drivers that, in the event of a crash, while they would be covered for third-party liability, their insurance provider may not cover any other costs if they breach their licence conditions.
The insurance companies may seek to recover costs for the non-compliant driver.
The Union of Students in Ireland said it was backing the Garda campaign to stop irresponsible behaviour by learner drivers.
“As a learner driver you simply have not proven that you are a safe and competent driver no matter how many lessons you have taken,” said union president Garry Redmond.
“So it’s vital that you drive accompanied by a fully qualified driver whenever using the road.”
The warnings came as gardaí stepped up their checkpoints over the bank holiday weekend. Four people were killed on the roads during last year’s May bank holiday and nine were seriously injured. Gardaí have mounted additional checkpoints to check for speeding and to conduct mandatory alcohol testing.
Mr O’Mahoney said the Garda message centred around reducing speed, never drinking and driving, always wearing seatbelts and being well-rested before setting out on journeys. “We must be mindful that any mistake on the road can lead to very serious consequences for all involved.”
