Driving licence in the Republic of Ireland
Encyclopedia
A driving licence issued by the Department of Transport Tourism and Sport through a Principal Local Authority is required to drive most forms of motorized vehicles in public in the state. Based on the European driving licence
standards, neither the categories of licence available nor the physical licence meet the 2006 standards as of 2008.
The physical licence is based on an older European format, defined in Directive 91/439/EEC, as used in Germany and other countries in the past. It consists of a pink tri-fold paper document, laminated on one side. It contains a photo of the driver, their personal details and home address, and a listing of categories of vehicle they are licensed for, with any restrictions printed using a code format. The unlaminated side consists of a section for any written in endorsements as well as a page with the term 'Driving licence' or its equivalents in a large number of languages.
Obtaining a driving licence as of 2010 requires having held a learners permit for 6 months and completing a combined practical and theory driving test, which covers driving, road safety and a minor amount of mechanical knowledge of a car. Obtaining a learners permit to begin with requires passing a computerised theory test. There are people who still hold valid "Provisional licences" from the previous (to 2007) system of issuing licences to enable people to learn to drive, but these now carry the same restrictions as current permits. Those on learner permits for most categories of licence must not drive unaccompanied. No learner permit holders are allowed to drive on motorways, and all must display red L-plate
s at all times, either on their vehicle or on a tabard
if a motorcyclist.
Both learner permits and the former provisional licences are identical in format to full licences, but green in colour. They do not carry the full translations list as they are not valid outside of the Republic of Ireland, and are marked as such on the front. Once a driving test has been passed, all categories of driver with the exception of motorcycle drivers have no restrictions on road usage or vehicle type.
Since 2002, Ireland, like other EU states, has operated a penalty points system for driving offences. If a driver accrues 12 points, their license is revoked.
Prior to serious reforms in 2007, many people who drove never completed the process of receiving a full licence - 400,000 people held provisional licences in October 2007 when the permit system was introduced. Serious crackdowns and a huge increase in testing facilities have brought this number down heavily.
File:Irish Drivers Licence.jpg|Current Irish driving licence
File:Irish Learners Permit.jpg|Current Irish learners permit
File:Irish Driving License (1981).jpg|Old version Irish driving licence (1981)
File:Irish Provisional Driving Licence (1976).jpg|Old version Irish provisional driving licence (1976)
who received numerous traffic tickets at different addresses when they determined that gardaí had mistaken the words "Prawo Jazdy," Polish for "driving licence," for the name of the motorist. In October 2009, the Garda Síochána
were awarded an Ig Nobel Prize
in literature
for this series of mixups.
.
The website for booking the theory test only lists locations outside of Dublin, one must type in Dublin in the Google map search box in order to return locations based in Dublin.
European driving licence
The European driving licence is a driving licence replacing the many driving licence styles already in use in the member states of the European Union. It has the credit card-style with a photograph and possibly a microchip. They were introduced to replace the 110 different plastic and paper driving...
standards, neither the categories of licence available nor the physical licence meet the 2006 standards as of 2008.
The physical licence is based on an older European format, defined in Directive 91/439/EEC, as used in Germany and other countries in the past. It consists of a pink tri-fold paper document, laminated on one side. It contains a photo of the driver, their personal details and home address, and a listing of categories of vehicle they are licensed for, with any restrictions printed using a code format. The unlaminated side consists of a section for any written in endorsements as well as a page with the term 'Driving licence' or its equivalents in a large number of languages.
Obtaining a driving licence as of 2010 requires having held a learners permit for 6 months and completing a combined practical and theory driving test, which covers driving, road safety and a minor amount of mechanical knowledge of a car. Obtaining a learners permit to begin with requires passing a computerised theory test. There are people who still hold valid "Provisional licences" from the previous (to 2007) system of issuing licences to enable people to learn to drive, but these now carry the same restrictions as current permits. Those on learner permits for most categories of licence must not drive unaccompanied. No learner permit holders are allowed to drive on motorways, and all must display red L-plate
L-plate
An L-plate is a square plate bearing a sans-serif letter L, for learner, which must be affixed to the front and back of a vehicle in many countries if its driver is a learner under instruction, or a motorcycle rider with provisional entitlement to ride restricted motorcycles.- Australia :In...
s at all times, either on their vehicle or on a tabard
Tabard
A tabard is a short coat, either sleeveless, or with short sleeves or shoulder pieces, which was a common item of men's clothing in the Middle Ages, usually for outdoors. It might be belted, or not...
if a motorcyclist.
Both learner permits and the former provisional licences are identical in format to full licences, but green in colour. They do not carry the full translations list as they are not valid outside of the Republic of Ireland, and are marked as such on the front. Once a driving test has been passed, all categories of driver with the exception of motorcycle drivers have no restrictions on road usage or vehicle type.
Since 2002, Ireland, like other EU states, has operated a penalty points system for driving offences. If a driver accrues 12 points, their license is revoked.
Prior to serious reforms in 2007, many people who drove never completed the process of receiving a full licence - 400,000 people held provisional licences in October 2007 when the permit system was introduced. Serious crackdowns and a huge increase in testing facilities have brought this number down heavily.
Gallery
File:Irish Drivers Licence.jpg|Current Irish driving licence
File:Irish Learners Permit.jpg|Current Irish learners permit
File:Irish Driving License (1981).jpg|Old version Irish driving licence (1981)
File:Irish Provisional Driving Licence (1976).jpg|Old version Irish provisional driving licence (1976)
Confusion over Polish licenses
In February 2009, gardaí in Ireland were investigating a recidivistRecidivism
Recidivism is the act of a person repeating an undesirable behavior after they have either experienced negative consequences of that behavior, or have been treated or trained to extinguish that behavior...
who received numerous traffic tickets at different addresses when they determined that gardaí had mistaken the words "Prawo Jazdy," Polish for "driving licence," for the name of the motorist. In October 2009, the Garda Síochána
Garda Síochána
, more commonly referred to as the Gardaí , is the police force of Ireland. The service is headed by the Commissioner who is appointed by the Irish Government. Its headquarters are located in the Phoenix Park in Dublin.- Terminology :...
were awarded an Ig Nobel Prize
Ig Nobel Prize
The Ig Nobel Prizes are an American parody of the Nobel Prizes and are given each year in early October for ten unusual or trivial achievements in scientific research. The stated aim of the prizes is to "first make people laugh, and then make them think"...
in literature
Literature
Literature is the art of written works, and is not bound to published sources...
for this series of mixups.
Driver Theory Test
The Driver Theory Test is carried out by Prometric Ireland on behalf of the RSARoad Safety Authority
The Road Safety Authority, RSA, is an authority to which the Irish Government has devolved control of much of the work of the Department of Transport, and was established in September 2006, charged with the task of improving safety on Irish roads and established under the Road Safety Authority Act...
.
The website for booking the theory test only lists locations outside of Dublin, one must type in Dublin in the Google map search box in order to return locations based in Dublin.
See also
- For Northern Ireland see Driving licence in the United KingdomDriving licence in the United KingdomIn the United Kingdom, the driving licence is the official document which authorises its holder to operate various types of motor vehicle on public roads. In England, Scotland and Wales they are administered by the Driver and Vehicle Licensing Agency and in Northern Ireland by the Driver & Vehicle...
- Irish passportIrish passportIrish passports are issued by the Consular and Passport Division of the Irish Department of Foreign Affairs in Dublin, Ireland.-Physical appearance:...