Provisional licence backlog to be tackled

LEARNER drivers could be banned from the roads if they fail their driving tests, Transport Minister Martin Cullen warned yesterday.

However, the radical measure will not be introduced until the backlog of 130,000 provisional licence holders is cleared. Some applicants have to wait for up to 47 weeks to sit their tests.

A total of 404,607 provisional licence-holders were on the road at the end of 2005 an increase of almost 25,000 on 2004.