Dáil Éireann Debate, Thursday - 17 September 2020
75. Deputy Catherine Murphy asked the Minister for Transport if road traffic law has been amended making it an offence for a learner permit holder to drive on a motorway; the penalty for the offence; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [24628/20]
View answerIt is an offence for a learner driver to drive on a motorway. There has been no recent amendment of the law in this regard.
Section 43 of the Roads Act 1993 empowers the Minister to prescribe in regulations who may have access to motorways. Regulation 7(2)(a) of Roads Regulations 1994 (S.I. No. 119 of 1994), made under the 1993 Act powers, specifies that a driver of a vehicle accessing a motorway must hold a licence, i.e. a full driving licence and not a learner permit. Failure to comply with regulations made under section 43 is an offence, and an offender is liable on summary conviction to a fine not exceeding €2,000.
The reason why we prohibit learners from driving on motorways is a judgement that motorways are not an appropriate environment for such inexperienced and unqualified drivers. It is therefore safer for them and for other road users for them not to have access to motorways. I am aware that a different view is taken in some other jurisdictions, but this is a judgement call and I have no plans to change the Irish law in this respect.
