New driving laws criticised by USI

The Government's tough new laws on provisional driving licences have come under further criticism - this time from the Union of Students in Ireland.

The USI has said thousands of students will be left in the lurch if they can't drive unaccompanied on a second provisional license.

The union has claimed this will only work if better transport links are put in place and if the waiting times for driving tests are cut dramatically.

Welfare spokesman Peader Hayes said that rural areas are badly affected, and called on the Government to look at creating a better public transport network from rural areas to the colleges.