L-plate drivers: Thousands fined for going solo

Hundreds of L-plate motorists were penalised every month last year for getting behind the wheel without a fully licensed driver in the car.

Figures released by the Courts Service show 3,272 L-plate motorists were issued summonses for driving unaccompanied in 2012. There are currently 219,207 learner drivers on the road.

Since mid-2008, all categories of learner drivers on provisional licences must be accompanied while behind the wheel and display L-plates on their vehicle.