Learning to Drive in Ireland...2007 The Year Ahead

Learning to drive in Ireland has taken on many new twists and turns in recent times. One of the main forces driving the huge increase in Learner Drivers in Ireland has been the unique demographics. Astonishingly the population of Learner Drivers equates to 10 per cent of the total population and they represent 20 per cent of all car drivers.

The increase in the Population in Ireland over the recent past has been additionally swelled by the expansion of the E.U to Twenty Seven Nations and the natural influx of immigrants to the most economically successful country in Europe has played a big part.

In a very short time span Economic Development in Ireland has created a level of wealth unprecedented in modern times and with this has come a new generation of car ownership. Previously it was not uncommon for people to be in their late twenties before attempting to learn to drive and to purchase their first car. Now it is commonplace for Learning to Drive in Ireland to commence at age 17 and car ownership to begin shortly afterwards.

Like all situations that grow too quickly for the resources at hand, the huge numbers of young people learning to drive in Ireland have created a problem of monumental proportions. Lack of a regulated Training programme for young novice Drivers has led to substantial Road Fatalities over the last ten years in the 17 -25 year old age bracket although we have seen a very slight drop in the Road Deaths during 2006 compared with 2005.

The waiting list for a Driving Test throughout most of the Country has been hovering around 12 months for several years now, although again the introduction of Private Contract Driver Testing will be of benefit during the course of 2007. It will only serve to halt the increasing waiting time for a Driving Test and not bring the wait to a more normal level in my opinion. It will take several years and much long awaited Legislation to reduce the waiting time for Learner Drivers sitting their Driving Tests but clearly the main focus of Road Safety initiatives should be that of learning to drive for Life with less focus on passing the Driving Test.

Many young drivers learning to drive in Ireland are taking no Professional Driving Lessons because (a) there is no culture of Learning to Drive and (b) No legislation to enforce a satisfactory standard for the beginner Driver.

The summer of 2007 will see the long heralded Introduction of Registration of Driving Schools and Instructors and when this is under way there should be a gradual move towards higher standards on Irish roads with the corresponding reduction in accident fatalities ultimately.

Learning to Drive in Ireland has become one of the hottest topics on the agenda and rightly so since no small country, despite its Economic prowess can sustain a situation where countless young and not so young Drivers and Pedestrians are being needlessly slaughtered due to the lack of Driving Standards legislation.