Protest Against New Driving Regulations

[easygoing]

But it was always illegal. It's not like anybody didn't know they had been driving illegally for the past 6 years or so. They knew, they simply didn't care and kept ignoring all the news that it would ultimately be enforced.

Flakie...you really dont seem to be able to grasp the fact that it has always been perfectly legal to drive on a second provisional! Changing this overnight is unfair and unjust!

What is happening is a uniqely irish solution to a uniquely irish problem, ie a bad solution to a bad problem.

DunDuns, this is rubbish. it has never been legal to drive on a second (or any other) provisional. The legislation was clear that the provisional was to teach people to drive and, it is correct, that you were allowed to 'practice' unaccompanied while on your second (and only on your second) provisional licence. This did not amount to it being a licence to drive, and it had a list of conditions, for example not being valid on motorways or outside the state.

So what verb would you use to describe the act of sitting in a car, turning the wheel, pressing the pedals, and making it move?

Of course it has been legal to drive unaccompanied with a second provisional licence. Flakie appears not to have known that, and is now after embarassing himself.

Stop splitting hairs. There're few things worse.

[flakie]

I was aware of that. I was referring to the 300,000 people on their other provisional licences, as I have explained a good few times already.

And it hasn't ALWAYS been legal to do so. It was a bad solution to the waiting lists. It didn't work.

[DunDuns]

Fine, maybe it hasnt been legal since the dawn of time, however, its currently legal and has been for many years. If anyone should be punished, its the gov for allowing this situation to develop, not your average joe who was simply operating within the system, flawed as it might be.

I totally agree with easy going, GJG is splitting hairs, and not entirely correctly either. The end result is that those on a second provisional were driving their cars legally alone, the learning/driving distinction is irrelevent, (surely one must actually drive as part of learning to drive) the end result is the same.

The bottom line is these people were driving (learning!) in their cars alone legally!

However, thankfully common sense has won out in the end...

[essexboy]

Noel Dempsey - is he Martin Cullen Mark II?

That combination of arrogance and incompetence says "Yes".

[Henry Joy]

People with provisional licences have had years to get organised and pass their tests. They were too lazy to do so.

To be honest Henry, that's an ignorant comment, a truly lazy statement. I've done this already, but I'll rehash it because it's worth rehashing.

I got my first provisional license in May, 2000. I took out a three month insurance policy and drove for three months until that expired. Obviously my license was valid until it expired in May 2002 - but I ceased driving in August 2000, so I wasn't using it.

I received my second provisional in June 2006. I applied for my test immediately. Now, I did not drive anything, or even own a car, until I bought a VW Golf in June 2007.

At this point, please note that a) I applied formy test a year before I even owned a car, and b) that I was waiting over a year to be called for that test. I'm serious.

After one month of driving legally on my second provisional, I failed the test. I reapplied the same day - this time with an employer's letter, to speed the process up. After 9 weeks, I will sit my second test on November 1st.

So I hope you see that your comment is plainly wrong.

Another thing to consider: Most provisional drivers do not want to be provisional drivers. Why? Well, because our insurance is so high. That's certainly why I wanted to pass my test as quickly as possible - it will reduce my insurance costs.

BTW - I've never been in an accident or made a claim. But lo! Last weekend I witnessed a horrible accident in Limerick - between two FULLY QUALIFIED DRIVERS! Golly Gosh!

So, you got your 1st licence in 2000, this is 2007 and you still haven't passed your test. You illustrate my point perfectly. Thank you.

Good luck for November 1st. I trust you will pass. I wouldn't want you to have to take another six year break to recuperate from your exertions.

[freedomlover]

Should full license holders put up L plates to protest?

(But I doubt this line at least outside of Dublin. What's the use of protesting to Gardai who did not htink up this measure and are, in fact, likely to sabotage it somewhat?)

I'd imagine nearly half of the fully licensed drivers in the country have L plates up most of the time anyway, as they are having their cars used by members of their families for the purposes of helping them learn to drive

As for an online petition.. forget about it.. no-one cares about them. This is fort the streets

I would suggest that P.ie can take a lead on this if necessary. I will certainly be talking to people over the weekend with a view to organising protests on the street about this measure, and perhaps other people who view P.ie can pass on details through their mail systems at home/work or school

I know the arguments for this proposal but you simply cannot change an accepted practice at such short notice and expect life to carry on regardless. People need their cars for work, school etc and at the very least need a decent lenght of lead in time to arrange a change in circumstances.

For the love of God, when the smoking ban was implemented, people were given a number of months.... And now the Government expects a change in mode and means of transport for up to a millin people (because the fully drivers who may have to accompany provisional holders are now affected as well), over a weekend ?

Absolutely ridiculous

What hypocrites SF are! SF are always prattling on about road safety and the need to harmonise road safety laws north and south of the border. Harmonisation of laws north and south has been a key element in virtually all of the numerous statements SF have made on road safety in recent years. Yet, as soon as a move is made to bring the law in the south into line with that in the north (and everywhere else), SF immediately start a campaign against it. North of the border unqualified drivers are totally forbidden to drive alone. Will SF be campaigning against that too. Or do they think the lives of young people south of the border are less valuable. SF can never be taken seriously on the issue of road safety again.

[KingKane]

[quote=Henry Joy]

People with provisional licences have had years to get organised and pass their tests. They were too lazy to do so.

To be honest Henry, that's an ignorant comment, a truly lazy statement. I've done this already, but I'll rehash it because it's worth rehashing.

I got my first provisional license in May, 2000. I took out a three month insurance policy and drove for three months until that expired. Obviously my license was valid until it expired in May 2002 - but I ceased driving in August 2000, so I wasn't using it.

I received my second provisional in June 2006. I applied for my test immediately. Now, I did not drive anything, or even own a car, until I bought a VW Golf in June 2007.

At this point, please note that a) I applied formy test a year before I even owned a car, and b) that I was waiting over a year to be called for that test. I'm serious.

After one month of driving legally on my second provisional, I failed the test. I reapplied the same day - this time with an employer's letter, to speed the process up. After 9 weeks, I will sit my second test on November 1st.

So I hope you see that your comment is plainly wrong.

Another thing to consider: Most provisional drivers do not want to be provisional drivers. Why? Well, because our insurance is so high. That's certainly why I wanted to pass my test as quickly as possible - it will reduce my insurance costs.

BTW - I've never been in an accident or made a claim. But lo! Last weekend I witnessed a horrible accident in Limerick - between two FULLY QUALIFIED DRIVERS! Golly Gosh!

So, you got your 1st licence in 2000, this is 2007 and you still haven't passed your test. You illustrate my point perfectly. Thank you.

Good luck for November 1st. I trust you will pass. I wouldn't want you to have to take another six year break to recuperate from your exertions. [/quote:2hu209b2]

HJ, why should someone apply for the license and go to the expense of lessons when they aren't going to be using the skills acquired? This posters stated they were not driving for 6 years but you think they should have learned for the sake of it?

[la200285]

Hi there,

I don't live in Ireland, but have my driving test on Thursday and was looking at the nitty picky things that testers pick you up for on the internet, so that I could avoid them and came across your forum about the change in driving regulations in Ireland.

Having read through all the comments (which kept me entertained for three hours) I was wondering what happened with regards to possibly postponing the introduction date and whether you did indeed stage a protest.

I hope the situation is better now. Though, from what some of you have said about your government, I doubt it!

[asknoquestions]

So, you got your 1st licence in 2000, this is 2007 and you still haven't passed your test. You illustrate my point perfectly. Thank you.

Good luck for November 1st. I trust you will pass. I wouldn't want you to have to take another six year break to recuperate from your exertions.

This is not unusual. People would apply at age 17 or as soon as they were eligible and maybe get some practice in their parents' cars, but at that age insurance costs completely rule out getting a car themselves.

So they wait a few years and then they can just hop into a car and drive off with their 2nd provisional even if they have never driven before.

But at least then they're in their mid-twenties and hopefully have a bit more sense than teenagers.