Alarm over surge in number of L-drivers
Thousands of motorists 'never get a full licence'
THE number of unqualified drivers on our roads is soaring, shock new figures show.
Thousands of these motorists are on their sixth, seventh, eighth or even ninth provisional licence.
For the first time, figures can reveal that the number of drivers on their sixth and subsequent provisional licence has jumped from just 88 in 2003 to an incredible 15,239 last year.
When those on their third, fourth and fifth provisional licence are added, the figures rise to 101,000.
The surge in the number of unqualified drivers comes despite government promises to cut the number on provisional licences.
Opposition TDs and traffic experts warned last night that the drivers - who are under no obligation to even go for a single driving lesson - are putting the lives of other drivers at risk.
Previously, the Department of Transport had refused to give a breakdown of exactly how many drivers were on their sixth and subsequent licence, saying the numbers were not quantified.
However, figures obtained by the Irish Independent under the Freedom of Information Act show the numbers renewing their provisional licence six or more times has jumped 173-fold in just three years.
The increase occurred during a period when Transport Minister Martin Cullen gave more than €10m to tackle the problem and promised to properly train more drivers to help cut road deaths.
Opposition TDs criticised the system which effectively lets an individual drive for their entire life without their skills being checked.
The official statistics reveal that in 2006 there were 19,744 people on their fifth provisional licence and a further 12,053 on their sixth. The data shows 2,918 drivers are currently permitted to drive on our roads with their seventh licence, 262 on their eighth and six on their ninth.
In 2003, there were just 4,879 on their fifth provisional licence, 79 on their sixth and nine on their seventh.
A loophole in the system means those with a provisional driving licence only need apply to do their test in order to renew their licence, but they do not need to sit it.
The figures also show the numbers passing their driving test each year has remained largely static since 1998.
That year, 81,864 passed with figures peaking in 2001 at 95,569. Last year, the numbers passing dropped back to 86,898 despite a €10m 'war chest' being given to tackle the waiting time problem.
Conor Faughnan of AA Roadwatch said provisional drivers were typically at higher risk of crashing, something which was reflected in their insurance premiums.
He also criticised the "completely unenforceable" system which stipulates learner drivers must avoid motorways and only drive with a fully licensed passenger.
"Essentially in reality the gardai have given up on the old regime," he said, adding that even the dedicated Traffic Corps cannot be expected to monitor the 20pc of all drivers who hold only a provisional licence.
A spokesman for the Road Safety Authority admitted there was no data to tell how many of the drivers did not turn up for a test - or how many failed the test multiple times.
Test
"To apply for a second provisional licence you have to have sat the test or applied. But beyond that there is no way of knowing if it was a fail or a no-show," said spokesman Brian Farrell.
Labour's environment spokesman Eamon Gilmore claimed that unqualified drivers were putting other motorists at risk.
"We have people who are on continuous provisional licences driving around and these people need to be trained by qualified instructors," he said.
Fine Gael's environment spokesman Fergus O'Dowd said he was "shocked" at the figures, and added: "I would never have thought they were as high as that. A person can either drive or they can't, if they go over and beyond a certain number of licences there's obviously something wrong."
A new system has been proposed which will scrap the provisional licence system and replace it with a graduated learner permit.
This will involve mandatory driving lessons from accredited instructors, a zero alcohol limit and a one-litre car engine limit.
Learners will then have to 'earn' their licence by moving through a variety of steps with stringent restrictions and conditions on their learner permit.
It is hoped the new rigorous system will come into force when the current backlog is cleared.
"It's up to the new minister whenever they take up their new post," said Mr Farrell.
- Edel Kennedy
