One of the hottest topics in the media in Ireland is that of the shambles of Learner Driving Legislation and the general low standard of Driving in Ireland. The daily death toll on Irish roads for many years has been obscured by all the good news of the growing population and economy. For decades Ireland was the poor relation in the Economic Community, as it was known then. Now the tide has turned dramatically over the last ten years and the economic climate and performance is the envy of many other Nations both large and small. The standard of driving in Ireland has decreased in very similar proportions to that of the increase in prosperity.

Sad but true nevertheless! So can we expect a return to sanity in the near future? Time will tell… but time is running out for many young drivers in Ireland and the piggy bank is being diminished by 1,000,000,000 per annum which could be used for better purposes methinks! This is the cost to the State currently of accidents!

Ireland has become a destination of choice for people wishing to create a better life for themselves and their families and large numbers have come from the expanded European Union, particularly Poland, Latvia and Lithuania. The increase in the population is putting a severe strain on the Department of Transport as it wrestles with the ever growing problem of Learner Driver Legislation, E.U. Driving Test Directives and other major road safety issues.

Unfortunately there has been a major downside to this phenomenal economic growth… that of deterioration in driving standards overall and with it the accompanying horrors as thousands of Learner Drivers take to the roads daily without sufficient training. One of the other downsides of a growing and stable Democracy is that even when there is an obvious need for change and this is supported throughout the populace, change is excruciatingly slow.

The wheels of Government turn agonisingly slowly and in the meantime countless hundreds of Drivers both young and old die needlessly mainly due to a lack of formal training and little or no enforcement of the regulations that are already in place. Driving in Ireland has now become a very hazardous and expensive sport indeed.

Fortunately there are numerous plans afoot to redress the situation of poor Driving Standards in Ireland. Some of these have been waiting patiently for the light of day for five years and more. It is only when a situation appears to be spiralling out of control that quite often action is taken. This is a human failing and we are all guilty of it. Just as every Driver in Ireland should shoulder some of the blame for the catastrophic situation on the roads that we find ourselves in.

Most Drivers are or will be Parents and they need to take a firm grip on the Driving aspirations of their children from the earliest age. Starting with setting a great example themselves they can gradually introduce road sense and safety principles without creating turmoil in the household. Children absorb a great deal of ideas and attitudes from a very early age and this should be capitalised upon by every Parent. This will one day help to save lives by each Driver exhibiting excellent skills, excellent attitudes and a willingness to continue to learn throughout their Driving career.

Driving in Ireland can improve if only everyone takes a slice of responsibility and stops passing the buck. Sanity and Safety will prevail but only with a monumental effort.

Can You play Your Part?

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