Any Proposals to Introduce Curfew on Young Drivers is Ludicrous
10 September 2009
Macra’s na Feirme’s Rural Youth Initiative committee chairman Tommy Moyles said Macra would not agree with any proposals to impose curfews on young drivers saying it would be a ludicrous idea as it would affect young people financially and socially and is typical of urban mentality that all the population resides in built up areas with transport services.
Macra has consistently believed that any policy/legislation that is imbalanced in favor of enforcement and does not sufficiently address incentivizing and educating young drivers to be responsible road users will not be successful.
With further cutbacks on public transport and the already poor transportation services in parts of rural Ireland, putting a curfew on young drivers and adults will have a negative effect on accessing employment and socialization outlets for young people in Ireland. The reality is that for people living in rural areas the only feasible transport option is by private car.
Mr. Moyles said it was Macra’s view that a proper focus on speed detection rather than dreaming up schemes to restrict young drivers from using public roads would be far more effective in ensuring that all drivers are less of a risk on our roads.
Mr. Moyles called on Minister Dempsey to use common sense when considering any proposals on a Graduated Licensing system.
Also Mr. Moyles said Macra does not agree with imposing a restriction on car power.
This measure would again disproportionately affect young drivers in rural parts of Ireland, where in many instances the family car especially in farm households is a diesel car with a higher engine capacity.
Finally he said Macra had proposed on a number of occasions in the past the introduction of a special trainee license to allow young people over the age of fifteen to take driving lessons with a qualified driving instructor. This would allow the Government to introduce a requirement that anybody applying for a provisional license would have completed at least a specified number of driving lessons with a qualified instructor.
It would also mean that students could take driving lessons as part of the school curriculum, particularly in transition year. A key element of this proposal is that driving instructors must have an accredited qualification in excess of the standard driving test.
If this system was introduced it would assist in ensuring that young drivers picked up good driving habits from the start rather than waiting until just before their test to get professional training.
