Dáil Éireann debate -
Tuesday, 30 Jan 2001

Vol. 529 No. 1

Written Answers. - Driving Licences.

Paul McGrath

Question:

853 Mr. McGrath asked the Minister for the Environment and Local Government the reason persons who have full driving licences for many years are required to take out provisional driving licences to drive a motor cycle; and the further reason there are restrictions on the size of motor cycle that can be driven with such a provisional licence. [2271/01]

Minister of State at the Department of the Environment and Local Government (Mr. Molloy)

Unless a person holds a full driving licence for category A – motorcycles of all sizes – or A1 – motorcycles not exceeding 125 cc, they must take out a provisional licence in the appropriate category in order to learn to drive a motorcycle and undergo the driving test.

The Road Traffic (Licensing of Drivers) Regulations, 1999 made a number of changes to the provisions governing the holding of driving licences for motorcycles, including the removal of restrictions by reference to an age limit of 25. Prior to the making of the new regulations, persons had either to have held a category A1 full licence for at least two years, or to be over 25 years of age, in order to be eligible to apply for a first-time category A provisional licence.

The new regulations have relaxed access to first-time category A provisional licences by providing for eligibility of any person over 18 years of age. However all such persons, irrespective of age, are restricted to riding motorcycles not exceeding 25 kW engine power for the duration of all provisional licences granted to them and for the first two years after passing a driving test and taking out a full category A driving licence.

The intention behind these new provisions is that new motorcyclists will be restricted to riding and gaining experience on lower-powered motorcycles – less than 25kW engine power – before being given access to higher-powered machines. These arrangements are considered desirable in the interests of road safety and against the background of the disproportionately high accident/fatality rate of motorcyclists in Ireland compared to other categories of road users. It should however be noted that these new arrangements do not apply to persons who held category A provisional licences prior to the commencement of the new regulations.

These progression arrangements for new motorcyclists will be kept under review in the light of the motorcycle accident and fatality rate and the impact of the motorcycle training initiative being undertaken by MAG Ireland with support from my Department.