Car owners face jail for letting learners drive unaccompanied

The Road Safety Authority has said it will take steps to cut waiting times for driving tests in light of a proposed Government crackdown on learner drivers getting behind the wheel unaccompanied.

Options being explored include evening and weekend testing in 2018 and greater efforts to have ‘no-shows’ at driving tests give advance notice they will not be turning up. RSA chief executive Moyagh Murdock said those people would not necessarily be penalised.

Under the amendment to the Road Traffic Bill on unaccompanied drivers, any car owner who knowingly allows their vehicle to be used by an unaccompanied learner driver could face up to six months in prison and a €2,000 fine. Vehicles could also be seized under the proposals, which have been passed by Cabinet and are currently being reviewed by the Office of the Attorney General.