Consider low earners if making driving lessons compulsory, says FG

MEASURES TO introduce compulsory lessons for learner drivers should take into account the resources of lower income families, Fine Gael has said.

The Road Safety Authority said yesterday its proposals for a new graduated driving licence included compulsory lessons for learners.

It said full details of the proposals would be announced next month and in the meantime any calculations as to likely cost to drivers were “speculation”.

Fine Gael, responding to suggestions that the cost involved for individuals could be as much as €700, said people who could not afford to pay for lessons should not be excluded from driving.

The party’s transport spokes- man Simon Coveney called on the Government to consider helping those on lower incomes with the cost of lessons.

The proposals are currently with Minister for Transport Noel Dempsey who, following the recent passage of the Road Traffic Act, now has the power to introduce reduced drink-driving levels for learner drivers.

Mr Dempsey has already approved the authority’s recommendations for graduated driver licensing. However, the authority refused to be definitive on the full extent of those measures, pending an announcement by the Minister.

Mr Coveney said any new initiative in the area of road safety must not discriminate against those on lower incomes. “There is a danger that imposing a minimum number of driving lessons will be prohibitively expensive for some families.

“So I am calling on the Government to examine the feasibility of the State providing some contribution to lower income families towards the cost of compulsory driving lessons,” he said.