The Minister for Transport Shane Ross has said motorists on learner permits will not be allowed to drive unaccompanied despite the prospect of driving tests being unavailable for the foreseeable future.
Speaking to RTÉ’s This Week programme, Ross said that he does not foresee driving tests returning anytime soon given the ongoing covid-19 pandemic.
Ross told the programme that the prospect of driving tests returning early is not possible given the fact that it would be a straight breach of social distancing guidelines.
The caretaker Transport Minister also said that he doesn’t intend to allow a breach in order to facilitate tests and the reality is that we’re in a situation that sacrifices have to be made and discomforts we will have to endure.
He added that he was not willing to allow those on learner permits to drive unaccompanied as they haven’t managed to satisfy the requirements in order to gain a full licence.
Although Ross did state he had sympathy for those on learner permits, he said the current rules will remain in place as it is a matter of public safety and if we changed them now we could end up with further road deaths.
The Transport Minister stated that the subject of expiring or expired learner permits will be reviewed once again in August.
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