With effect from Monday 30 June of this year, all learner drivers must be accompanied by a driver who holds a full driving licence continuously for the previous two years. This provision, introduced in Regulations in October last year, amended the position where drivers on a second provisional licence could drive unaccompanied.
The current provisions relating to drink driving apply to the driver of a vehicle and not to an accompanying driver or any passenger. The introduction of a provision to make the accompanying driver subject to drink driving legislation would require primary legislation. Such a measure is not currently among those being finalised by the Minister for Transport in a draft Scheme of a Road Traffic Bill to be circulated to other Ministers for comment shortly.