Provisional licence holders

..and asswipes with no lights on.

Well, the upside of this if it sticks should be an improvment in Dublin traffic with all the provisionals having to car pool.....!!!

I nearly fell out of my chair watching the 9 o'clock news yesterday with the guy, very indignantly declaring "I'm on my first provisional license; what I'm I suppose to do now!?" - he was, of course, unaccompanied!

I discussed this with work colleagues, one of whom, almost proudly, declared that she had failed her test 3 times and couldn't remember which number of provisional she was on... She thinks she's a "very good driver"; obviously the examiner disagreed - trice! The mind shudders at the thought of people who have failed a test numerous times, are still on the road.

I think the learner driver system should be done away with altogether and the sooner the better but Dempsey's decision to put people off the road is un-enforceable and it does indeed look like we're going to have some compromise/climb-down in how rigourously the new law will be enforced.

Better driver's education, better roads and strict enforcement of drink-driving (and drug-driving) laws are, in my view, the way to reduce the accident rate in this country.

..I think this new law is great if it is implemented properly. but is ridiculous that if you turn 17 you can go straight out and pick a provisional licencse and hop in to a skyline etc(And prob pay 3-4 grand for insurance as they do) and start driving around.where is the logic in this..people with none or little driving expierience cannot handle these cars..There needs to be a very advanced drivng course and THEORY test done for everybody before getting behind the wheel..As far as i know in france italy and germany you have to all these tests.obviously it makes sense..and also my main point which angers me so much is that the govt only blame drivers for accidents on our roads..well if they actually woke up and pulled their heads from out of there arses they would see that our roads are shi*e and about 20 years behind other countries.so if these were up to euopean standards im sure it would help alot ..its amazing the way that shi*face prick bertie can get a 38.000 euro payrise but the more important things this country needs go unseen..and the people who vote him in there in the first place are worse.......

I find the attitude of some members here very strange. THe system worked for all of you so far and non of you complained when they where on a provisional license.

Maybe the system needs to be reworked I agree with that but what is going on now is just plain rubbish.

1.) The goverment promissed to get the waiting lists down to a couple of weeks or days even I heard them say. This hasn't happened.

2.) Most people on here havn't even done the "mickey mouse" theory test they applied for a lerner license and started driving. Test is still better than nothing as it shows you have a basic understanding of the rules.

3.) What happens to the 150tsd. or so people who work and need their car to get there? Are we asking them to break the law to do so?

4.) Are we asking the Garda to use "discretion" in their aproach? How is that going to work? You get let off on one checkpiont and then get b****xed 10 minutes later from a traffic cop?

I'm off to a meeting in Conemara as from the 12 people staff 6 are on a provisional license (might you they got insurance to drive the van with the kids) 4 have no license at all and two have a full license.THey work shifts so we are completely bollixed. Meet the accountnant and silicitors on Tuesday as we have to canccel countless groups and activities so I might sue the government for the damages as it was impossible to come up with a workable solution in the time given. From what I hear this happens to many many companies.

Great politics great teasoch just great place to make business.

oh and for the job so well done he and his ministers get the best payrise in the whole of europe. I'm realy discusted

 

Not living in the south im not really up to speed on the provisional licence carry on but from what ive seen i don't know how its still going on.

I drove down to dublin a few weeks ago (working in the north) to see a woman driving eratically on the M1 with a whole fleet of kids in the car, displaying L plates. Couldn't really believe what i was seeing.

I think the system is badly flawed and the only reason i have ever been given for it is lack of driving instructors and waiting time for the Test. My other half has been looking to get lessons in antrim and a couple of instructors have told her they are too busy or phone back in 3 -4 weeks and i think the waiting period for the test is 6 - 8 weeks.

I don't know how bad the situation is regarding waiting times but id rather her wait a few months than get in a car and hurt herself. Northern ireland has implemented a restricted period for new drivers which for a year after they pass limits them to 45mph which i don't agree with in all situations i think its a good start.

I think they should also do away with the first, second, third provisional licences as this confuses the matter

just my two pennys worth




Edited by jamsieboi

larzyh wrote: netwhizkid - I agree with much of what you've said but let me get the right - you got a provisional license at 17, not to use it, but in order to drive un-accompanied on your second provisional license at 18? I would consider that a misuse of the system, as the first license is intended for you to gain experience while accompanied by another, fully qualified, driver. It is thus possible to drive unaccompanied without any experience, whatsoever; crazy system!

I got my first provisional a few days after my 17th Birthday and I started driving on it and was driving on it for 5 months before it expired and I then got my 2nd Provisional and am driving on that since while waiting for my test, my father or mother usually accompanied me on all journeys and we would often go on nonsensical journey's just simply so I could get used to driving, I drove these in both my Auto BMW and a Manual Toyota and I can drive both.

This way I got enough experience and confidence in so I could drive on my own with my second provisional, a person has to learn to drive on their own too; one must remember because you can't have mam or dad with you while you are taking the practical driving test. What is happening now is nothing short of a nanny state and will actually contribute to higher failure rates in my opinion.

Drivers Education is key and you have so many young people sitting behind the wheel and they haven't a clue how to drive a car properly or the risks involved. The same goes for the functioning of a car I'd estimate that 50% of drivers don't know the basics of how an internal combustion engine works or that a clutch isn't just a peddle. I understood most of this when I was 12yrs old.

Also as a nation of Manual Cars there is the inherent dangers involved with Manuals as they are harder to drive when you begin driving  eg. stalling etc. In America they begin you in Automatics to let you get used to the complex nature of traffic and controlling a car and then migrate you onto Manual if you wish. This was how I started as I began in my Auto BMW and after a month moved to Manual and after a little practice got into that easily and I must say my slight auto experience helped me greatly in this aspect of my driving.

Not to turn this into a Auto V Manual Debate but I think the way I did this was an excellent way and I spent over €400 in lessons from a Qualified instructor in teaching me how to drive in both Vehicles although I may have taken a few extra lessons in the Manual Car but this is because I plan to undertake my driving test in a Manual so as not to have Automatic Restriction on my licence leaving me free to choose either transmission method throughout my life.

When I get my Licence it is will be no big deal as it is just a Licence plenty people have full driving licences and are worse drivers than any learner, approx. 30,000 people got free full licences under a licence amnesty to clear a backlog in the past. Adopting a safe and courteous driving mentality is key and this move by the Government is just another smoke-screen to scapegoat young drivers for the Governments inability to adopt better driving policies and improve our roads which are 20yrs behind Continental Europe, a starter they could make is exempt crucial modern safety features from VRT (Vehicle Registration Tax) which has seen a large percentage of Irish cars sold with poverty specs to ensure market prices as a result your "standard Irish" Model won't have much in the line of safety features and forget any toys or luxury like maybe GPS or Air-Conditioning as standard. These punitive taxes are forcing young people who generally have enough expense of Education and maybe a Mortgage into unsafe cars which is thus leading to higher fatalities on our roads.

While the intention of the Government maybe good they sure are making a dog's dinner of the way they are going about doing it.

@ Fey learned it in germany so you have to get all the theory then do 25hours with an instructor including night and motorway training. Then sit you theory exam and do your driving test in the instructors car. If you pass you can drive your own car.

This makes a driving licence very expensive (around 4000€ at the moment) 

People assume it's a god given right to go out, get a provisional liscence, buy a car and drive when in fact you have to earn it. Personally I would like system to adopt a French or German approach. 

The reason so many people are on 2nd 3rd etc. provisionals is a general apathy to the system, failure rate is 55% in certain areas and the test is just a thing to get out of the way so one can get another provisional and get driving again. Generally anyone not to have done or passed the test after 2 /3 years on the road is a cop-out. As bad as the goverment are, its rare for it to take more that a year to get a test date.

Simple example was my Wife did her test on her 1st lisence in Finglas back in 2001, Got provisional, applied for test in Jan01, purchased Pug 106 on 5th Feb. Took 10 drivers instructor lessons and passed the test april 16 2001. Granted during that time I had her sick to death of finglas and had her driving everywhere. She passed, got 300 quid rebate on her insurance. So why doesn't the rest do it ?? No incentive, but if the RSA clip the wings of provisional holders as they're trying to do now it might motivate people to take the whole thing seriously, apply themselves for the test properly and do it right first time considering now there's actual consequences for failing..

Edited by Curley

G.T. wrote: beemerchris wrote: @ Fey learned it in germany so you have to get all the theory then do 25hours with an instructor including night and motorway training. Then sit you theory exam and do your driving test in the instructors car. If you pass you can drive your own car. This makes a driving licence very expensive (around 4000€ at the moment)  Shoot, Chris...you should move to the Philippines. I can get you a driver's license, passport, heck...a completely new identity for a couple of thousand pesos. At the current excahnge rate, that's only about 9.95 euros (or thereabouts)!

LMAO   

maybe we should open a travel company over in germany organising trips with a licence