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Extra.ie
23-05-2025
- Automotive
- Extra.ie
Driving test waiting times to be cut to 10 weeks, says RSA
Lengthy waiting times for driving tests will be cut to ten weeks by the start of September, the Road Safety Authority has claimed. Currently, provisional licence-holders are waiting an average of 27 weeks for their test. And there is an 'unprecedented' backlog of 100,000 L-plate drivers seeking a test date. Now Road Safety Authority (RSA) staff have offered to work bank holidays and conduct tests early in the morning, later in the evening and on Saturdays to bring down the waiting times. Lengthy waiting times for driving tests will be cut to ten weeks by the start of September, the Road Safety Authority has claimed. Pic: Shutterstock RSA chief Sam Waide apologised for the delays and said: 'Our team has developed a focused, projectionbased plan to improve availability and reduce wait times. Every part of the system is being mobilised to deliver for the public. 'The RSA will publish progress updates every fortnight via its website to ensure full transparency and public awareness as the plan advances. We're asking customers to support the effort by cancelling early if they cannot attend, so that appointments can be offered to others.' Learner drivers were also reminded to make sure their car is fit for a test, as more than 4,000 tests could not be carried out this year because cars did not have an NCT disc, were not taxed, the driver was not insured, or the car was not roadworthy. Provisional licence-holders are waiting an average of 27 weeks for their test. Pic: Shutterstock The RSA's plan includes fast-tracking new examiners, enabling early deployment of them to test centres; longer testing hours, including Saturdays and bank holidays, with tests running from 7.25am to 7pm; and targeted manual intervention in the booking system to ensure test dates are issued to the areas of greatest demand. The RSA will also open new driving test centres, bringing the national total from the current 41 to 60. It is also looking at other ways to deal with any potential future surges in demand for driving tests. The number of driving tests has steadily increased year on year. In 2021 there were 157,183 tests. In 2022 that rose to 180,696 and it hit 212,525 in 2023. The number hit a record 253,850 last year, a 61% increase since 2021. Road Safety Authority (RSA) staff have offered to work bank holidays and conduct tests early in the morning, later in the evening and on Saturdays to bring down the waiting times. Pic: Shutterstock The wait for learner drivers in April varied significantly depending on the test centre, though all centres had at least a five-month wait. Navan, Co. Meath, and Tallaght in Dublin had the longest wait at 43 weeks. Galway's Carnmore test centre had the next-longest wait, estimated at 42 weeks. The centres in Clifden, Co. Galway, Tralee, Co. Kerry, and Gorey, Co. Wexford, had the shortest queue time last month – but applicants still faced a 21-week wait. Minister of state Seán Canney said that 'all options' are under consideration to address the backlog. 'The service is not right and it needs to be rectified,' he told the Dáil last week. The wait for learner drivers in April varied significantly depending on the test centre, though all centres had at least a five-month wait. Pic: Shutterstock Mr Canney said he had instructed the RSA to review its plan to get test times down to ten weeks and 'identify further measures that will bring forward the date for achieving the target'. The new chair of the Oireachtas Transport Committee, Michael Murphy TD, said he was seeking an early meeting with the RSA 'to allow them to outline what they are doing to tackle growing waiting lists for driving tests'. Out of almost 370,000 L-plate drivers last year, nearly 160,000 were on their second provisional licence at least, while 37,000 drivers have rolled over to at least their fifth. All face premiums of around €2,000 for annual motor insurance and lose out on significant savings by not passing their test. Dominic Lumsden of Peopl Insurance said: 'There are substantial savings to be made by moving from a learner permit to a full licence – to the tune of about €386 a year for some young drivers.'
The Irish Sun
22-05-2025
- Automotive
- The Irish Sun
New Irish driving test centres & longer opening hours come in amid cut to wait times for 100k backlog
NEW driving test centres and more test slots have been announced to combat the huge backlog of potential new drivers waiting for a date. The 3 The government has tasked the RSA with fixing the backlog Credit: Getty 3 The RSA are opening new test centres and adding new hours Credit: Getty They have been tasked by the A comprehensive action plan has been announced with multiple steps in place to tackle the ongoing issue. It's hoped that results will be seen by September of this year. The new measures include speeding of the training of new testers through the use of more training facilities and a new approach to training. READ MORE IN MOTORS There will also be expanded testing hours, meaning more time slots will be available. Overtime bookings will be made available for weekday evenings, Saturdays, and bank holidays. And tests will now take place between the hours of 7.25am until 7pm. There will also be "targeted manual intervention" into the booking system. Most read in Motors This will allow test invitations to be sent out to the areas where they are in highest demand. And multiple new test centres are set to open in key areas to facilitate more examinations. I'm an Irish driving instructor and here's what you have to do in order to apply for a licence CONTINGENCY MEASURES The new centres will bring the number of testing facilities in the country up to 60. And the RSA have said that they are currently looking into contingency measures to deal with any future backlog. Sam Waide, Chief Executive Officer at the RSA, said: 'We know how frustrating and disruptive these delays are - especially for people who need a licence for work, college, or caring responsibilities. "I want to offer a sincere apology to everyone who has been affected. SUPPORT THE EFFORT "Our team has developed a focused, projection-based plan to improve availability and reduce wait times. "Every part of the system is being mobilised to deliver for the public. "The RSA will publish progress updates every fortnight via its website to ensure full transparency and public awareness as the plan advances." He continued: 'We're asking customers to support the effort by cancelling early if they cannot attend, so that appointments can be offered to others. "Every cancelled slot that's re-used helps us reduce the backlog faster. "Also, we're urging customers to ensure they prepared for their test as over 4,000 tests so far this year couldn't be conducted for reasons such as vehicles without a valid NCT, Tax, Insurance or not deemed roadworthy." 3 There's a backlog of 100K people waiting for tests Credit: Getty
BreakingNews.ie
22-05-2025
- Automotive
- BreakingNews.ie
RSA launches action plan to cut driving test waiting times
The Road Safety Authority (RSA) has launched an action plan aimed at reducing driving test waiting times nationwide. The Government has tasked the RSA with reducing this to the target of 10 weeks. Advertisement The plan sets out actions to bring the average waiting time down from 27 weeks to 10 weeks by early September 2025. This urgent response comes amid unprecedented demand for driving tests, with 100,000 in the backlog/waiting to be tested, the RSA said. Key measures now underway to boost testing capacity include: Accelerated training of new testers through the use of additional training facilities and a revised approach to training enabling early deployment of new testers to centres; Expanded testing hours, including overtime for weekday evenings, Saturdays, and bank holidays - with tests running from 07:25am to 7pm; Targeted manual intervention in the booking system to ensure invitations are issued to areas of greatest demand to ensure more efficient slot allocation; To further alleviate pressure, new driving test centres will open in key areas bringing the national total to 60 centres. As directed by Minister of State at the Department of Transport Séan Canney, the RSA is also currently examining and appraising contingency measures, both internally and externally as further options to deal with any potential future surges in demand for driving tests. Chief executive officer at the RSA, Sam Waide, said: 'We know how frustrating and disruptive these delays are - especially for people who need a licence for work, college, or caring responsibilities. I want to offer a sincere apology to everyone who has been affected. Advertisement "Our team has developed a focused, projection-based plan to improve availability and reduce wait times. Every part of the system is being mobilised to deliver for the public. The RSA will publish progress updates every fortnight via its website to ensure full transparency and public awareness as the plan advances 'We're asking customers to support the effort by cancelling early if they cannot attend, so that appointments can be offered to others. "Every cancelled slot that's re-used helps us reduce the backlog faster. Also, we're urging customers to ensure they prepared for their test as over 4,000 tests so far this year couldn't be conducted for reasons such as vehicles without a valid NCT, Tax, Insurance or not deemed roadworthy.'
Irish Examiner
22-05-2025
- Automotive
- Irish Examiner
RSA to open new test centres and expand operating hours to reduce waiting times
New driving test centres in "key areas" of the country and testing on bank holidays form part of the Road Safety Authority's new plan to drastically cut lengthy waiting times which have caused a backlog of 100,000. The RSA said it has been tasked with cutting driving test waiting times from an average of 27 weeks to 10 weeks by early September. Today it unveils its 'urgent response amid unprecedented demand'. 'We know how frustrating and disruptive these delays are — especially for people who need a licence for work, college, or caring responsibilities,' RSA chief executive Sam Waide said. 'I want to offer a sincere apology to everyone who has been affected. Our team has developed a focused, projection-based plan to improve availability and reduce wait times.' The plan includes: The 'accelerated' training of new testers through the use of additional training facilities, and a new approach to training that will see testers deployed earlier to centres. Expanded testing hours, including overtime for weekday evenings, Saturdays and bank holidays, with tests running from 7.25am to 7pm. Manual interventions in the booking system to make sure invitations are issued to areas of greatest demand New driving test centres in 'key areas', bringing the national total to 60. The RSA has come in for sustained criticism in recent months for the delays to driving tests, with issues facing those with long waits raised frequently in the Dáil. Junior transport Minister Sean Canney last week said the Government 'does not consider the current situation acceptable', adding that the RSA was planning to have the 10-week waiting time in place by the end of the year. In its statement today, the RSA said it has also been directed by the minister to examine 'contingency measures' inside and outside the organisation to deal with any future demand surge for driving tests. Demand for driving tests has risen 61% since 2021, with 157,183 conducted that year compared to 253,850 last year. The body added that it will publish its progress on reducing the waiting time to 10 weeks on a fortnightly basis. Mr Waide added: 'Every part of the system is being mobilised to deliver for the public. 'We're asking customers to support the effort by cancelling early if they cannot attend, so that appointments can be offered to others. Every cancelled slot that's re-used helps us reduce the backlog faster. 'Also, we're urging customers to ensure they prepared for their test as over 4,000 tests so far this year couldn't be conducted for reasons such as vehicles without a valid NCT, Tax, Insurance or not deemed roadworthy.' Read More National average waiting time for driving test is 27 weeks
RTÉ News
01-05-2025
- RTÉ News
Drivers urged to take extra care ahead of bank holiday weekend
The RSA has advised drivers to take extra care on the roads this weekend, saying bank holidays are usually high-risk periods for collisions. It also called for a "zero tolerance culture" towards drug driving as it launched a campaign aimed at dissuading the action ahead of the bank holiday weekend. The Road Safety Authority said its initiative "puts a spotlight on the serious and life-altering consequences of driving under the influence of drugs". This, it warned, includes "loss of employment, restrictions on international travel, and the impact on personal relationships". The campaign "aims to correct public misconceptions and raise awareness, especially among young people, about the reality and risks of drug-driving", the RSA said. Its Chief Executive Sam Waide said the initiative "is about more than law enforcement, it's about changing mindsets". "Drug driving is a hidden but deadly threat on our roads," he added. The Medical Bureau of Road Safety said it received 4,348 specimens for drug analysis last year - a 12% increase on 2023. "In 73% of positive drug results, the drivers were under 44 years of age and the majority were male," it said, adding "cannabis and cocaine were the top two drugs found". But Director of the bureau Professor Denis Cusack said it is "essential" that people continue taking doctor-prescribed or pharmacist-advised medications. Chief Superintendent of the Garda National Road Traffic Bureau Jane Humphries said for the first quarter of this year, 814 people were arrested on suspicion of driving under the influence of drugs. An Garda Síochána's Assistant Commissioner for Roads Policing and Community Engagement said gardaí are "encountering an increased number of people failing roadside drug tests". Since January 2024, Paula Hilman said half of those detected "were aged under 30". The launch of the RSA's campaign coincides with the May Bank Holiday Road Safety Appeal - a joint initiative by the authority and An Garda Síochána. The appeal urges drivers "to slow down, avoid driving under the influence, and to keep mobile phones out of reach while on the road".
