Noel Ahern (Dublin North West, Fianna Fail)

The driver licensing regulations, which were made in October 2007, represented the first step in the fundamental reform of the arrangements for the formation and licensing of learner drivers. The replacement of the provisional licence with the learner permit was designed to emphasise the fact that extra caution and supervision are required when drivers are in the learning phase of driving. The regulations apply consistent rules to learner drivers in so far as all such drivers must now be accompanied by holders of full licences while driving. Since 30 June last, all learner drivers must be accompanied by a person who has held a full driving licence for at least two years. Prior to that, holders of a second provisional licence were in the unique position of being allowed to drive unaccompanied. Provisional licence holders on their first, third and subsequent licences had to be accompanied by a person with a full driving licence, with no minimum period specified. The reform of the accompanying rule for learner drivers is an important element of the 2007-12 road safety strategy. The enforcement of the accompanying rule, like all road safety regulations, is a matter for the Garda Síochána. In recent weeks, the force has indicated that the rule is being actively enforced. I have not discussed this issue with the Road Safety Authority recently. I do not have any additional policy proposals on the matter.

The recent changes which were made to the learner driver licensing rules are beneficial for road safety. I am pleased that the law is being enforced and that the number of road deaths is continuing to fall. There have been 219 fatalities so far this year, sadly. That figure is 32 lower than the figure for the first nine months of last year, however. The number of fatalities in the three months since I introduced the new provisions is 74, which represents a dramatic decrease. There were 87 fatalities in the corresponding period last year.

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