Sir, – Looking up various statistics and reports on uninsured drivers and those on learner permits, I was astonished and amazed at the level to which there is non-compliance regarding uninsured and disqualified drivers and abject failure by those on learner permits to obtain a full licence.
With regard to uninsured drivers, there were 188,000 uninsured drivers on the road in 2022, according to the Motor Insurers’ Bureau of Ireland (MIBI) (News, April 29th).
In 2024, the MIBI-released data that showed a rise of 11 per cent in the number of accidents involving uninsured drivers.
Between 2021 and 2023, 32,700 drivers were disqualified from driving but a staggering 76 per cent ignored that suspension by not submitting their licences for endorsement.
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In July 2023, there were 301,000 people driving on learner permits, and 34,000 of those were on their fifth learner permit, while 11,700 were driving for 20 years on a learner permit, with a further 1,701 people driving for 30 years on a learner permit.
The latest figures showed there were 289,000 people on learner permits, with 27,000 of those still on permits from between 11 and 20 years.
In February 2024, the CSO released figures that showed over 100,000 people in the Dublin area alone on learner permits.
While there are over three million drivers in this State, excluding those who have arrived from outside the EU, gardaí have seized over 7,000 vehicles. While 15,000 scanners were issued to gardaí on a pilot basis to help with uninsured drivers, etc, along with automatic number-plate recognition cameras, the fact is that those who are disqualified and are ignoring their disqualification should face stiffer sanctions when caught, rather than a fine or slap on the wrist, and those on extended “forever” permits should not be driving on our roads. – Yours, etc,
CHRISTY GALLIGAN,
(Retired Garda sergeant),
Letterkenny,
Co Donegal.