Dáil Éireann Debate, Thursday - 16 December 2004
148 Ms Shortall asked the Minister for Transport the action which he proposes to take to deal with the 380,000 provisional drivers on roads here; if he intends to prohibit provisional drivers from driving unaccompanied as promised by his predecessor; the action which he will take to reduce the waiting time for driving tests; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [34038/04]
View answerI refer the Deputy to my reply to Parliamentary Question No. 94 of 7 December 2004.
The Government's strategy for road safety 2004 to 2006 identified speed, seat-belt wearing, driving while intoxicated, engineering measures, and vulnerable road users, as being the key priority areas to be addressed over the coming years in terms of yielding road safety benefits. As regards legal changes to enhance road safety, the strategy states that driver licensing regulations will be amended to discourage long-term reliance on provisional licences. I will consider what amendments should be made in this regard.
As regards the waiting time for driving tests, my Department is in communication with the Department of Finance regarding measures to reduce the backlog of driving test applicants including the recruitment of additional driver testers.
