Do I need any kind of licence before i'm allowed get driving lessons?

S

Sn@kebite

Registered User
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Hi,
I am about to take lessons, but i've been told that i need to do my theory test before im allowed get into a car to take lessons.
Is this true?


Also: Some of my friends said they have provisionals and they still drive cars by themselves ie with no fully licenced driver in the car with them.
Can you do this?

And finally, how many provisionals are there (i heard there are 3), and are they all compulsary?
 
You need a provisional to have lessons, and you do the theory test to get your provisional licence. You only have one provisional licence at a time, it lasts for two years and you keep renewing it until you pass the test and get a full driving licence. As far as I know, there is no limit to the number of provisional licences you can have, you get one after another not all at once, though obviously the fewer the better!
 
My understanding is you must pass the theory test first. Then you get your first provisional licence which lasts for two years. If you do not pass your test during these two years, you can get another provisional licence for two years. If you keep failing the test then you can continue to get two year provisional licences, on provision of the failure certificate. If you do not apply for the test and apply for your third licence then the third licence will only be for one year.
 
You cannot legally drive without a licenced driver-but I think this only applies on your initial provisional licence?
 
Extract from www.drivinginfo.ie

Since the commencement of the Driver Theory Testing Service on 11 June 2001, a theory test certificate must be obtained before a first provisional licence is granted. You may not apply for a third provisional licence unless you can provide evidence that you have (a) undergone a driving test in the two-year period prior to the application or (b) evidence of a forthcoming test date. A two year provisional licence will be granted if you provide evidence you have undergone a driving test, and a one year provisional licence will be granted if you submit evidence of a forthcoming test date.

Also this is further down the page,
Car drivers (category B) with a provisional licence must be accompanied at all times by, and under the supervision of, a person with a current full driving licence to drive a car. (The only exception to this, is where the driver holds a second provisonal driving licence to drive a car). The obligation to be accompanied by a qualified driver is set down in SI 352/99 Road Traffic (Licensing of Drivers) Regulations 1999.
 

So a provisional driver can drive alone only if on their second provisional licence but not on a third etc ? This seems kind of a strange law.
 
sign said:
So a provisional driver can drive alone only if on their second provisional licence but not on a third etc ? This seems kind of a strange law.
Click to expand...

Yes that's the case.

Donno the mad reasoning behind it.

Perhaps whoever came up with it thought that if the learner hadn't passed the test by the second provisional they couldn't be trusted to learn unsupervised. Whereas they gave them benefit of the doubt on the second. If the testers held more tests only the terminally bad drivers would make it to the third provisional and it might make some sense.

It's universally ignored of course, Gardai included.
 
Have a look back at the past.The driving test is a relatively new phenomenon.In the 1950/1960 [open to correction]there was no test you simply bought your licence.Back in the 1970's our minister for the Environment Sylvie Barrett down in Clare granted full licences to those who had 2nd.or 3rd.provisional licence who were awaiting test. My brother got one of these licences.I felt very aggrieved to having to undertake the test [which I got 1st.time.]
Is there any chance that the new government [seeing that the Greens have swallowed their principles] might be tempted to offer such a generous token to cut the back log? Just on a point of interest I wonder if our Road Safety Watchdog Gay Byrne did a driving test or did he get to buy one.
 
Haille said:
Just on a point of interest I wonder if our Road Safety Watchdog Gay Byrne did a driving test or did he get to buy one.
Click to expand...

Gay started off well with this job but I havent heard much from him lately. Whats' he been doing thats new ?

The biggest impact of policy I think is the Insurance company sponsored adverts which show the consequences of careless behaviour while in charge of a vehicle.
 
Haille said:
Is there any chance that the new government [seeing that the Greens have swallowed their principles] might be tempted to offer such a generous token to cut the back log?
Click to expand...

Can't offer a source but I'm sure I have read that it would be contrary to European law to offer such an amnesty again.
 
PaulH said:
Can't offer a source but I'm sure I have read that it would be contrary to European law to offer such an amnesty again.
Click to expand...

Especially with (i) the amount of cars on the roads today & (ii) the ignorance/arrogance of drivers today, people were more respectful of each other and the law back in the day, i should think.


Thanks for the replies guys and gals!!! Keep em comin' if you think of any more, i'm begining to build up a map of the dos and don'ts.

Regards.
 
Haille said:
Is there any chance that the new government [seeing that the Greens have swallowed their principles] might be tempted to offer such a generous token to cut the back log?
Click to expand...

As others have mentioned the EU might have something to say on this but as well as that I think public attitudes may have moved on since the previous amnesty. With the relentless road safety campaigns we have been subjected to over the last decades I doubt public opinion would allow for such an obviously reckless move.
 
redchariot said:
It would be a sorry day for Irish motoring if another amnesty is allowed.
Click to expand...


Well if there was one i'd be happy for me, 'cause i'd be a careful/good driver. However i don't think i'd have the nerve to go out on the road with other ppl who have just been "given" their licences
 
I suppose the idea of being allowed drive unsupervised on Prov. 2is that by that stage you have 2 years experience. You do not need to sit a test as far as I know for Prov 2. However to get Prov 3 you need to sit the test. The warped logic is i suppose is if you are on your third or more provisional you have failed your test and need supervision
 
Re : Prov Licence 2

I don't think any logic (warped or otherwise) was involved. As far as I remember, this was due to an 'oversight' in the law, and was not intentional. It was meant to be resolved by the changes that were being introduced relating to provisional drivers and testing (that was back in the Seamus Brennan days).
 
Being allowed to drive on your own on the second provisional is a hang over from the days of one-year provisional licence validity AFAIK. The idea was that you got your first provisional and learnt how to drive accompanied. You then applied for the test, which took about 12 months to come around (I know I had an 11 month waiting period back in 1990-91). During this time you applied for your second provisional. So once you got your second provisional you were deemed to have enough experience to drive on your own pending the test. You can only apply for a third (and subsequent) provisional after failing the test. Since you've now failed the test, you have lost your right/priviledge to drive unaccompanied on a provisional licence.
 
Is it true my perception that most people seem to just drive their car anyway no matter whether it is their 2nd, third or 4th provisional licence?

Do the authorities turn a blind eye to this ? And whats the maximum penalty given to someone who drives in this way under a provisional?

And does it invalidate their insurance ?
 
It depends on the Gardai involved. I was in an accident on my 2nd prov (while waiting for my test) and the Garda that came out was a real stickler and said I was lucky I was on my 2nd. Was in another accident on my 3rd (when I was still waiting) and the Garda said my provisional licence didn't matter.

For the record, it took me 3.5 years to get a test date when it wasn't snowing or roads flooded (had tests cancelled) so when I finally got to do my test I passed first time. Up to the test my insurance company knew I was driving alone and I was fully covered.

Oh and neither accident was my fault either!
 
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