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Instructors slam new rules for mandatory driving lessons

New rules will require drivers to have at least 12 hours of lessons before applying for a learner permit – costing around €400.

DRIVING INSTRUCTORS HAVE attacked new rules that require learner drivers to sit at least 12 driving lessons before they are allowed to sit their full driving test – saying the rules offer no flexibility for faster or slower learners.

The new Essential Driver Training (EDT) regime, being introduced by the Road Safety Authority from April 4, and will require all drivers on a learner permit (formerly a provisional licence) to sit the mandatory number of lessons before they can sit a test.

Learners will also have to wait two weeks between each lesson for practice, and are told to sit at complete at least 36 hours of ‘homework’ with a licenced driver.

With driving lessons costing between €30 and €35 per hour in different parts of the country, the regime will mean that new learners will have to pay out as much as €420 in driving lessons simply to be allowed to sit a driving test.

This price would come on top of the cost of sitting the Driver Theory Test – currently €40.60 – and other associated costs such as having an eyesight exam.

Driving instructors have lashed out at the new rules, however, claiming that they do not allow for flexibility for drivers who are quicker or slower at picking up their driving skills.

“Training has always been tailored to individual drivers with people progressing at different rates,” Cathy Bacon, chairwoman of the Irish Driving Instructors Association, told the Irish Times. “The new mandatory lessons provide no flexibility for this.”

Others have complained that the new system – which will require instructors to sign a log book of lessons – may give learner drivers a false sense of competency, and said they would feel uneasy about signing the log book if they didn’t feel a driver was competent enough.

Padraig McHale of the Leinster Driving Campus in Kildare told the Irish Independent that the 12 lessons outlined were often not enough “to get someone up to driving test standard. You would need to double or treble that.”

Having to take three times the prescribed 12 lessons would mean drivers could spend over €1200 on tuition alone, as well as the other costs associated with learning to drive.

Another concern raised by instructors is the fact that the licenced driver with whom the ‘homework’ is completed cannot be audited – meaning they may pass on their bad habits to the new driver.

RTÉ News said the GMB union had criticised the RSA for not consulting driving instructors about the new scheme, and also complained that there was no requirement for the lessons to be passed – but merely completed instead.

This is in contrast to a new system of motorcycle tuition introduced at the end of last year, which requires new motorcyclists to reach a certain level of proficiency at the end of their lessons.

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11 Comments
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    Mute Ross MacCárthaigh
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    Jan 15th 2014, 3:26 PM

    Good News for clubs etc that want to travel to events and keep costs down. Such clubs usually struggle for funds. Ryanair making some good changes lately. Check in with phone next please!

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    Mute Stephen D
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    Jan 15th 2014, 4:47 PM

    You can’t get a flight for €20 and expect Emirates first class service. Maybe someday the naysayers will realize this.

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    Mute Dave Dson
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    Jan 15th 2014, 3:14 PM

    Now 20 people can have a sore arsê after 30 minutes instead of just one. Progress.

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    Mute William Grogan
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    Jan 15th 2014, 4:10 PM

    I’ve flown many times with Ryanair, I’m 6ft and I’ve never got a “sore arse”. Maybe your big fat wallet in your back pocket is causing your problem.

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    Mute Pat Donlon
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    Jan 15th 2014, 4:11 PM

    I think shareholders should fire Mr O’Leary with immediate effect for been an a!!hole for the last tn”years. All of the current changes were OBVIOUS and could have made them billions more if implemented long long ago

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    Mute John the Baptist
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    Jan 15th 2014, 4:33 PM

    yes Pat ‘ Billions’ and they were so obvious that Aer Lingus who have them for some time have also made ‘ Billions’ from them. Ask any Ryanair investor They are blissfully happy with Michael’s business model

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    Mute brian magee
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    Jan 15th 2014, 11:33 PM

    So Pat, you think that you could have created one of the largest airline in the worlds from what Aer lingus once described as a small regional airline.
    The man is a genius and has done a great job to date. I reckon the share holders live him

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    Mute gerbreen
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    Jan 16th 2014, 12:15 AM

    AL employee?

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    Mute Rodger 5
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    Jan 15th 2014, 5:41 PM

    How about cutting the cost of bringing a bike? you do get groups of cyclists.

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    Mute Conor Mac Manus
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    Jan 15th 2014, 3:44 PM

    Sounds very messy, imagine sharing a flight with a hen etc.

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    Mute Chris Judge
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    Jan 15th 2014, 3:59 PM

    It’s not going to be much messier than it already is. I assume people already travel in large groups on other airlines, even with Ryanair. This will just make it simpler to book those flights.

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    Mute ferbo
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    Jan 15th 2014, 4:48 PM

    And they will refuse boarding to some if they are short of seats – You pay for EU261 protection, but Ryanair do not allow EU261 claims for denied boarding! May their planes drop out of the sky!

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    Mute Aaron
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    Jan 15th 2014, 4:58 PM

    Your an absolute g*bshite!

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    Mute Aaron
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    Jan 15th 2014, 5:04 PM

    You’re*

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    Mute Ray McMonagle
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    Jan 15th 2014, 7:48 PM

    Ryanair do not oversell flights

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    Mute brian magee
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    Jan 15th 2014, 11:34 PM

    What are you on about? European air lines don’t over sell seats

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    Mute RonanM123
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    Jan 16th 2014, 3:05 AM

    All airlines do especially on high freq routes by around 5-10% on average.

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    Mute brian magee
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    Jan 16th 2014, 3:38 PM

    No they don’t

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    Mute Timmay Timeo
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    Jan 15th 2014, 9:50 PM

    Avoid avoid avoid….forever

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    Mute Aaron
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    Jan 16th 2014, 3:43 PM

    Brian Ryanair overbook their flights by 10% in most cases as studies show 10% of pax don’t show up. 189 pax on the plane, booked for 208, 10% no show for check in leaves just under a full flight

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