Labour Party promises overhaul of driving tests

THE Labour Party has promised an overhaul of the driving test system and more education for young motorists if they are in Government after the next election.

The party proposes to make it obligatory for motorists to take at least eight driving lessons before the test, and four more in the year after passing the test, during which drivers will be granted a new restricted licence, to last for those 12 months only.

Party transport spokeswoman Roisín Shortall said the driving test and licensing system here is “the most lax in Europe”, costing dozens of lives on the roads.

She was speaking at the launch of the party’s 50 proposals for road safety in a policy document entitled ‘Driving for Life’.

So far this year, 229 people have been killed on Irish roads, despite a target set by the National Road Safety Authority to keep fatalities in 2006 below 300.

A third of drivers and more than half of passengers killed in car accidents are under 25-years-old.

Labour Party leader Pat Rabbitte said: “Clearly, there is a gap in the learning, testing, and licensing system if such a large number of young people are losing their lives.”

He said Labour’s proposals “will transform the manner in which people are educated to drive and begin to break many of the habits that end up causing accidents, bringing grief to so many families”.

The policy document contains a commitment to clear the driving test backlog within two years of entering government.

This would involve employing 30 temporary testers, for a three-year period, at a cost of €3 million.

Ms Shortall said: “By the end of that period, we will guarantee driving tests within six weeks of applying.”

More than 400,000 people are currently driving on provisional licences, and waiting times for tests are taking up to 60 weeks in some parts of the country. Ms Shortall claimed this has “undoubtedly contributed to a lowering of driving standards and a loss of respect for safe driving”.

Other proposals to overhaul the system include a standardised test around the country.

“I would like to see more supervisory grade testers in order to create a more uniform standard,” said Ms Shortall.

The party also plans to put road safety classes, but not driving lessons, on the school curriculum.

Ms Shortall said Labour would also fund a major study on “the boy-racer phenomenon” which she said has created a culture of fear in many communities.