New regulations unworkable, says driving instructors chief

Motorists affected by the controversial laws must have a qualified driver accompany them if they do not hold a full licence by June 30.

Embattled Minister for Transport Noel Dempsey was forced to bow to public outrage and defer the rules from being introduced at midnight tonight.

However driving instructors believe the 122,000-driver backlog will still not be cleared by mid-2008.

Chief executive of the Driving Instructors’ Register, Des Cummins pointed to the average test failure rate of 50% among second provisional licence holders.

“These figures are not do-able whatsoever,” he warned.

“A huge number of people will apply in a panicked way, pushing up the numbers.”

Criticising the inaction of successive Governments on the issue, Mr Cummins said: “They have made a mess of provisional licences over the years. They have learned nothing from 1979 with the amnesty. Nothing has been worked out at all.”

Impact union official Tom Hoare said the crisis represented another occasion where political announcements have caused a run on driving tests.

“We expect thousands of people looking for immediate tests.

“The political announcements will also force people to apply for tests who are not ready for the test.”

Mr Dempsey announced on Sunday that he was deferring the introduction of the accompanied driver provisions until June 30, 2008.

Two days earlier on Friday, he indicated that gardaí may act proportionately over a two to three month period in enforcing the laws.

Under the Road Safety Strategy scheme, motorists on second licences would need to be accompanied by drivers who have held full licences for at least two years.

Fine Gael called for Mr Dempsey to consider his position in the wake of the controversy.