Life-long learners: More than 11,600 motorists still on provisional permits after 20 years

Published on 1 January, 2023

Overview

More than 11,600 motorists are still on a provisional permit for driving their car — more than 20 years after they first got their first permit, the Department of Transport has said.

The long-time learners are among more than 290,000 people who hold a provisional permit, with lengthy queues for driving tests currently being reported.

However, figures from the department reveal a staggering number of motorists who appear to be simply rolling from one learner permit to the next.

There were 22,487 drivers on provisional licences for between six and 10 years, and 27,034 more for between 11 and 20 years.

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There are a total of 11,691 people on learner permits more than 20 years after they first got their licence, of whom around 30pc are registered in Dublin.

The department said it was currently looking at developing legislation that would help tackle individuals who were remaining indefinitely on provisional licences.

The latest figures from the end of November show that there are 192,379 people on learner permits for less than two years.

A further 38,597 drivers had their provisional licence for between three and five years, the department said.

However, it did say that not every driver listed would have continually held a licence from the time they obtained their first driving permit.

That means there could be gaps for some drivers where their licence had either lapsed or perhaps they lived in another country for a period.

An analysis of long-term provisional licence holders shows that rates for those holding one for more than 20 years were highest in Leitrim, Kilkenny, and Wexford.

The lowest rates for individuals on learner permits for more than two decades were recorded in Galway, Donegal, and Louth.

Lengthy queues for driving tests are currently being reported. Waiting times for driving tests at some test centres exceed 30 weeks. The Road Safety Authority has hired contract driving testers to tackle the backlog.

A spokeswoman for the Department of Transport said legislation allowed learner drivers to renew their permit for a third time on condition they showed evidence of having sat, or applied to sit a driving test.

The spokeswoman added: “The issue of multiple learner permit holders” was recognised as a problem and was being tackled through the Road Safety Strategy.

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Passing driving test can cut young drivers’ motor insurance premiums by €1,000