Geraldine Herbert: Driving test waiting times can be driven down by volunteers in the passenger seat

Irish Independent

27-05-2025

Pairing learners with experienced volunteer drivers will give them a better chance of passing – and not being sent to the back of the queue
Today at 21:30
Few rites of passage feel as unevenly stacked as the Irish driving test. Your chances of success can feel like an Eircode lottery. In April, learners in Tallaght, Dublin faced a 43-week wait and a pass rate of 42pc. Over in Loughrea, Galway, it's a different story: the wait time was half as long and the pass rate is 65pc. Same country, same test, very different outcomes.
Nationally, the average wait time ballooned from 15 weeks to 27 in just a year – a far cry from the Road Safety Authority's (RSA) promised 10-week turnaround.
The RSA's latest report shows that waiting times are falling, with the national average now below 23 weeks and projected to drop sharply as new measures take effect. However, the national pass rate hovers around 53pc, meaning many learners are sent back to the queue multiple times, compounding delays across the system.
Two big questions are going unanswered: why are so many learners failing? And what kind of support are they getting before they sit the test?
Ireland's approach to learner drivers has long been a patchwork of contradiction and compromise. In 1979, a postal strike caused such a backlog that about 45,000 full driving licences were issued en masse to those with a second provisional licence.
For decades, we turned a blind eye to unaccompanied learners and ballooning wait times – a textbook example of the 'Irish solution to an Irish problem'.
More recently, though, the pendulum has swung in the other direction. The Clancy Amendment, introduced in 2018, gave gardaí the power to seize vehicles driven by unaccompanied learners. It also made both the driver and the vehicle owner legally accountable. But while this move was necessary – arguably even life-saving – it hasn't fixed the deeper dysfunction.
Let's be clear: driving unaccompanied is dangerous. Since 2016, over 80pc of learner drivers involved in fatal crashes were unaccompanied. In 2023 alone, 13 out of 14 fatal learner collisions involved drivers who were alone in the car.
The picture is just as grim when it comes to serious injuries – between 2019 and 2023, nearly three-quarters of learner drivers in serious collisions were driving solo. A learner without proper support is not just more likely to fail a test – they're more likely to crash. We've known this for years. So why haven't we fixed it?
The purpose of accompanied driving isn't just to meet a legal requirement – it's to help learner drivers build confidence and develop safe habits in a controlled, supportive environment.
Real learning happens through steady, supervised practice with the safety net of an experienced passenger. The 12 mandatory essential driver training (EDT) lessons are just a starting point. They were never designed to create fully competent drivers on their own.
The system assumes learners will get extra practice between lessons, but many don't have access to a car or someone to sit beside them.
For those without this support, the system sets them up to struggle. Relying solely on the EDT lessons leaves many underprepared. Some are tempted to bend the rules, while others are simply locked out, missing opportunities for work, education or independence.
Ireland should pilot a national volunteer system, pairing vetted, experienced drivers with learners who lack backup.
It's not a new idea. In New Zealand, a similar scheme matches learners with trained volunteer mentors, provides insured vehicles and covers costs like fuel. These programmes have improved pass rates and reduced road offences – but they've also proved a lifeline for those otherwise left behind.
Here, volunteers could be drawn from retired drivers, community groups, or local businesses, with training and oversight from the RSA. It's a practical, scalable solution that could genuinely change lives.
Technology could also be used more effectively. Digital resources such as Virtual Driving Instructor could be formally integrated into the learning process to help learners structure their practice, track progress and improve between lessons.
Evidence from other countries shows they can accelerate learning and reduce costs. A national pilot could offer free or subsidised access to those who need it most. It's not a replacement for instruction, but a smart supplement – especially for those who can't afford multiple extra lessons.
And yes, we do need to recruit more testers. But in a country where 83pc of employers report talent shortages – according to the 2025 ManpowerGroup Talent Shortage Report – we can't pretend recruitment alone will solve this.
What we need is a system that works for everyone: one that gives learners a safe, fair and timely path to independence.
We've muddled through for decades. Our young people deserve better.