The Irish Driving Test…Time for Change.

The Irish Driving Test has changed a great deal over the last four years or so with more changes likely in the future as further E U directives take effect and the example set by other Nations becomes the accepted norm.

Worldwide concern over poor driving standards within the younger driver fraternity has led to much debate and numerous changes in Legislation in North America, The United Kingdom, Australia and most importantly for Ireland, on the Continent of Europe.

While the Irish Driving Test still has a way to go to reach the standard of other E.U countries including the U.K it nevertheless provides a foundation for changes into the future that will affect every new driver who takes to the road.

The level of change in Driving Standards as promoted from within the European Union, will lead to an improvement in the volume of serious accidents particularly those involving young inexperienced drivers who occupy a large proportion of the statistics and who currently view Driving Lessons as unnecessary.

It is often the case that lessons are only taken on the last minute lead up to the Irish Driving Test with predictable results. First time pass rates in the Irish Driving Test currently are around 55% but the figures vary from centre to centre and perhaps if the Irish Learner Driver would actually take the trouble to find out what was actually required of him or her then these rates would be higher.

The long awaited reduction in Irish Driving Test waiting times is now well under way since July 2007 with the awarding of a contract to undertake 100,000 Driving Tests over 18 months, to the company currently handling the national Car Test Service. This service is mandatory and tests the mechanical efficiency and safety of cars that are four years old.

 Mandatory Tuition and minimum prescribed Driving Lessons before taking the Irish Driving Test will have the effect of vastly improving the standards of Learner Drivers coming onto Irish roads, just as the National Car Test improved the overall standard of all Cars on the road in Ireland. Prior to the introduction of the NCT it was very common to observe vehicles on the road that were in such a poor state that the negligence of the owners concerned could be regarded as criminal.

Tough legislation which is effectively policed also has the effect of gradually improving driver performance, sometimes grudgingly, since bad habits are slow to be replaced by more acceptable driver skills. Random breath testing has produced a significant increase in the number of arrests for Drink Driving in the year since introduction and the likelihood of Mandatory Driver Tuition very shortly will speed up the process of improved driver behaviour.

The introduction of under the bonnet Technical Checks to the Irish Driving Test in early 2005 at least now means that Learner Drivers have to get some form of instruction on the basic functions of the vehicle equipment and how to interpret instrument warning lights.

Eco Driving techniques and principles, while forming part of the U.K Driving Test procedures are not yet part of the Irish Driving Test but will be taught in any event by those Instructors who provide comprehensive Driving Tuition. These very essential skills are mostly common sense to an experienced Driver but do not register on the list of essential requirements for most young learner drivers, especially those who don’t take lessons.

When it becomes common knowledge that Eco Driving skills can actually benefit the Drivers’ pocket as well as improving the environment by reducing exhaust emissions, then by default improvements in driving standards will follow. There is nothing like a financial incentive to hasten change in behaviour. An improvement in Driving Test results should also follow which will consequently lead to a further reduction in the waiting time for the Irish Driving Test.

Waiting times have been quite staggering over the last three to four years as vast numbers of new drivers have taken to the road, many of whom are new immigrants seeking to make a new life in this green island of Ireland. The result of this lengthy wait for a test appointment has led to many learner drivers ignoring the law and driving unaccompanied which in turn has led to very poor standards and an equally poor understanding of the Driving Test. If laws are flouted and there is no response by the Authorities then appreciation of the reasons for having a Driving Test diminish dramatically and the whole thing becomes a joke.

The Irish Driving Test, as a yardstick of driver competence has some considerable distance yet to travel before reaching European standards and being regarded seriously by the majority of Irish Learner Drivers. Change is coming and hopefully will serve to influence a new generation of Irish Drivers and perhaps help to improve existing driver behaviour at the same time.