More than 2,000 unaccompanied learners taken to court this year
Up to 2,400 learner drivers have been brought to court so far this year for driving while unaccompanied, according to new figures from the Courts Service.
A total of around 4,400 motorists were also taken to court as a result of the offence last year.
The statistics have been released as controversy continues over the Government's planned crackdown on provisional licence holders who are not accompanied by a qualified driver.
Minister for Transport Noel Dempsey has already backed down on his initial plan to ban all unaccompanied provisional licence holders from midnight last night.
He now says the measure will come into force in the middle of next year, but driving testers say there still will not be enough time for all the affected drivers to pass their test and obtain a full licence.
